Navigation & Structure

Role

Lead Designer at Idealist.org

Problem
Users struggled to navigate through Idealist's extensive job board efficiently. The lack of an intuitive layout caused them to spend extra time searching, resulting in a lower engagement rate.

Solution
Developed a simplified, user-centered navigation system for the job board, incorporating user testing and feedback to prioritize key features. The design enhanced clarity and streamlined job search, making it easier for users to find relevant listings quickly.

Key Features

Header Redesign

In the header, I simplified top-level options and organized items into dropdown menus, making navigation cleaner and more intuitive. The footer was also enhanced to provide quick links to key resources, ensuring users can easily find essential information from any part of the site.

Notifications

I designed the notifications system to provide timely, relevant updates for users without overwhelming them. By prioritizing essential alerts and creating clear, digestible notifications, users can stay informed and engaged with the platform in a way that feels both supportive and unobtrusive.

Streamlined Search

The updated search bar and filter system improve the user's ability to find relevant jobs quickly. By organizing filters into clear categories, users can now access a wide range of options that help them customize their search, making the entire process smoother and more efficient.

I reorganized the hierarchy, grouped similar items, and added a drop down menu

Early Iteration

Early redesigns mixed categories with admin actions, confusing the posting flow, "Post a Listing" was added to the header

Header Dropdown Menu

Dropdowns menus have illustrations and descriptions of our resources

Notifications

New notification feature keeps users informed with real-time updates on comments, likes, and important announcements

I designed a new split-screen listing layout to keep users engaged with more job opportunities and implemented a top search filter for faster, more intuitive browsing

Search Filters

I designed new top search filters that allow users to quickly refine their job search by multiple criteria

Footer

I designed a responsive footer that highlights our mission and key offerings, ensuring users can easily access important information across all devices

User Sign Up

Through a new playful and streamlined intake flow, combined with a homepage prompt focused on signups, we increased user signups by 163% in just 30 days—bringing in 26,627 new users compared to 10,120 the previous year.