HERTECH
Digital platform designed to connect black women in tech with inclusive companies.
COMPANY
Hertechtrail
ROLE
UI UX Designer
EXPERTISE
UI UX Designer
YEAR
2021
Project Overview
HerTech is a digital platform designed to connect black women in tech with inclusive companies offering opportunities. It aims to bridge the gender and racial employment gap by showcasing curated job listings, mentorship programs, and resources for career growth.
Problem Statement
Despite the growth of the tech industry, black women remain underrepresented in tech roles due to limited visibility of inclusive opportunities, lack of tailored mentorship, and systemic hiring barriers.
Key Challenges: Black women in tech face underrepresentation in job markets, Companies struggle to directly reach diverse talent pools, Lack of a centralized, inclusive space highlighting opportunities for women of color in tech.
Design Question:
How might we create an inclusive platform that connects black women in tech with companies that are committed to diversity and inclusivity, while providing resources to thrive in their careers?
Research & Insights
User Research
I conducted interviews and surveys with 15 black women in tech and 8 HR recruiters from inclusive companies.
Findings: Job seekers want transparent company values around diversity, They desire mentorship & community support beyond just jobs, Recruiters need a diverse talent pool that is easily accessible.
Personas
1. Ada – The Job Seeker
26 years old, Frontend Developer, Lagos, Wants remote roles in inclusive companies.
Pain points: lack of representation, limited access to resources.
2. Michelle – The Recruiter
34 years old, HR Manager, Inclusive Tech Startup.
Wants to diversify hiring pipeline.
Pain points: struggles to find black women applicants in work places, its mostly men.
Process
This category details the step-by-step approach taken during the project, including research, planning, design, development, testing, and optimization phases.
Research & Planning
Design Process
Information Architecture
For Job Seekers: Job listings, mentorship hub, learning resources, community forum.
For Recruiters: Company dashboard, job posting, inclusivity spotlight.
User Flows
Job Seeker: Sign up → Create profile → Browse jobs → Apply → Access mentorship.
Recruiter: Sign up → Showcase company inclusivity → Post job → Shortlist candidates.
Wireframes
Low-fidelity sketches for homepage, job listing page, profile setup, and company dashboard.
Iterated 3 times based on feedback.
High-Fidelity Screens
Landing Page – Clear mission statement, call-to-action: “Join HerTech, Find Your Place in Tech.”
Job Board – Filter by role, location, company inclusivity score.
Mentorship Hub – Book 1-on-1 mentorship sessions.
Company Profiles – Highlight diversity policies, employee testimonials, benefits.
Community Forum – Discussions, events, peer-to-peer support.
Prototype & Testing
Conducted usability testing with 6 participants (4 job seekers, 2 recruiters).
Key feedback: Needed clearer onboarding steps for new users, Added company inclusivity score badge for transparency, Improved job search filters for accessibility.
Solution
Results & Impact
Created a centralized, inclusive platform tailored for black women in tech.
Improved representation by spotlighting inclusive companies.
Enhanced user confidence with mentorship and career growth resources.
(Future metrics to measure success: number of job placements, mentorship sign-ups, recruiter engagement.)
Key Learnings
Inclusivity must be visible and actionable in design (not just words).
Both job seekers and recruiters benefit from transparency and accountability.
Building community features strengthens user trust and retention.
Results
Here, the outcomes and achievements of the project are highlighted, including user feedback, adoption rates, and industry recognition.
User engagement
Increased session duration by 25% due to improved navigation and playlist management features
Conversion rates
Blues saw a 15% increase in premium subscriptions following the redesign, thanks to a clearer call to action and streamlined onboarding process.
Growing User Base
The app quickly gained traction among individuals and businesses worldwide, with a steady increase in user adoption and engagement.