DISCOVER PROJECT
DISCOVER PROJECT
Timeline
Feb 2023 - April 2023
Disciplines
Usability Optimization
UI/UX Design
Responsibilities
Research
Heuristic Evaluation
UI Redesign
Iteration
Tools
FigJam
Figma
Notion
- Product Background -
McPloy is a swipe-based job and recruitment app with a twist — it works like Tinder, but for finding jobs and hiring people. There are two types of users — job seekers and employers. A quick switch button lets you swap between roles anytime.
• Job seekers could swipe right on jobs they liked.
• Employers could swipe right on candidates they were interested in.
If both swiped right, it was a match and they could chat directly inside the app.
The app also had a paid boost feature, where users could buy extra swipes (like 10 more swipes) to increase their chances of finding the right match.
- Client's Requirement -
The client approached me with a clear but challenging request:
• Fix the usability issues in the app without altering its core identity.
• Preserve the existing colour palette (teal-to-light-green gradients) and the overall rounded, card-based style.
• Improve the clarity of navigation for both job seekers and employers, especially when switching roles.
• Clean up the cluttered UI while keeping the same structure and key features intact.
• Refine the visual hierarchy to make important elements stand out without changing the brand feel.
• Make the paid features (boosts) more understandable so users know their value and how to access them.
In short, the client wanted a better user experience without losing the original “McPloy” look and vibe that they had already invested in.
- UX Outcomes -
40% Fewer Mistaps – A Smoother Experience for Users
40% Fewer Mistaps – A Smoother Experience for Users
40% Fewer Mistaps – A Smoother Experience for Users
In the old design, icons were small, inconsistent, and too close to other elements, causing frequent misclicks. I redesigned them with:
• Larger tap areas
• Consistent icon styles to create visual familiarity.
• Extra spacing between tappable elements to prevent accidental taps.
These changes made interaction smoother and reduced user frustration during navigation.
User Satisfaction Rating Improved by +1.7 Points
User Satisfaction Rating Improved by +1.7 Points
User Satisfaction Rating Improved by +1.7 Points
Through consistent spacing, better visual hierarchy, and improved role-switch feedback, the interface felt lighter and easier to understand.
After conducting post-redesign usability surveys i.e. System Usability Scale (SUS), the score jumped from “OK (2.5)'' to “Great (4.2)” This was mainly due to:
• Clear role indicators to avoid confusion between job seeker and employer modes.
• Reduced visual clutter without changing the brand’s signature style.
• Prioritised CTAs for faster decision-making
Boost Purchases Went Up by 18%
Boost Purchases Went Up by 18%
Boost Purchases Went Up by 18%
The Boost feature (paid swipes) was hidden away in the old design and didn’t explain its value properly.
In the redesign, I added:
• Small prompts that showed up right when users hit their swipe limit.
• A quick one-tap purchase option right from the swipe screen.
This made the feature easier to notice and use at the right moment, which helped improve conversions.
- Research -
Stakeholder Interviews
Since I had to keep the original design language intact, the first thing I wanted to do was really get into the minds of the people running this product i.e. the stakeholders.
Key Questions & Purpose
1. What’s the primary success metric for the app?
2. Which parts of the UI are causing the most complaints from users?
3. What features are most important to keep untouched?
Insights Gained
• Stakeholders wanted to increase paid feature adoption (Boosts, subscriptions) but without making the app feel too “pushy.”
• The core swipe interaction was non-negotiable because it defined the app’s identity and competitive positioning.
• There were also consistent complaints about navigation and accidental taps which gave me the space to focus on reducing friction without breaking the familiarity of the brand.
Usability Testing on Existing App
Tested with 8 participants (4 job seekers, 4 employers)
• Asked them to:
1. Switch from “Employee” to “Employer” mode.
2. Swipe through 5 job/candidate profiles.
3. Match and start a conversation.
4. Check swipe limits and upgrade plan.
• Findings:
1. 60% couldn’t find the role-switch button within 10 seconds.
2. 70% of first-time users said the icons felt “confusing” or “too similar,” which slowed down navigation.
3. 25% increase in reported frustration when switching between “Job Seeker” and “Employer” modes.
Heuristic Evaluation
I evaluated app against Nielsen’s 10 usability heuristics.
Found violations in:
1. Visibility of system status (no feedback on swipe limits).
2. Consistency and standards (inconsistent icon styles).
3. Recognition over recall (role-switch lacked clear indicators).
4. Aesthetic & Minimalist Design (inconsistent spacing, colourful and stretched icons)
- Final Designs -
Before & After Screens
DISCOVER PROJECT
DISCOVER PROJECT
Timeline
Feb 2023 - April 2023
Disciplines
Usability Optimization
UI/UX Design
Responsibilities
Research
Heuristic Evaluation
UI Redesign
Iteration
Tools
FigJam
Figma
Notion
- Product Background -
McPloy is a swipe-based job and recruitment app with a twist — it works like Tinder, but for finding jobs and hiring people. There are two types of users — job seekers and employers. A quick switch button lets you swap between roles anytime.
• Job seekers could swipe right on jobs they liked.
• Employers could swipe right on candidates they were interested in.
If both swiped right, it was a match and they could chat directly inside the app.
The app also had a paid boost feature, where users could buy extra swipes (like 10 more swipes) to increase their chances of finding the right match.
- Client's Requirement -
The client approached me with a clear but challenging request:
• Fix the usability issues in the app without altering its core identity.
• Preserve the existing colour palette (teal-to-light-green gradients) and the overall rounded, card-based style.
• Improve the clarity of navigation for both job seekers and employers, especially when switching roles.
• Clean up the cluttered UI while keeping the same structure and key features intact.
• Refine the visual hierarchy to make important elements stand out without changing the brand feel.
• Make the paid features (boosts) more understandable so users know their value and how to access them.
In short, the client wanted a better user experience without losing the original “McPloy” look and vibe that they had already invested in.
- UX Outcomes -
40% Fewer Mistaps – A Smoother Experience for Users
40% Fewer Mistaps – A Smoother Experience for Users
40% Fewer Mistaps – A Smoother Experience for Users
In the old design, icons were small, inconsistent, and too close to other elements, causing frequent misclicks. I redesigned them with:
• Larger tap areas
• Consistent icon styles to create visual familiarity.
• Extra spacing between tappable elements to prevent accidental taps.
These changes made interaction smoother and reduced user frustration during navigation.
User Satisfaction Rating Improved by +1.7 Points
User Satisfaction Rating Improved by +1.7 Points
User Satisfaction Rating Improved by +1.7 Points
Through consistent spacing, better visual hierarchy, and improved role-switch feedback, the interface felt lighter and easier to understand.
After conducting post-redesign usability surveys i.e. System Usability Scale (SUS), the score jumped from “OK (2.5)'' to “Great (4.2)” This was mainly due to:
• Clear role indicators to avoid confusion between job seeker and employer modes.
• Reduced visual clutter without changing the brand’s signature style.
• Prioritised CTAs for faster decision-making
Boost Purchases Went Up by 18%
Boost Purchases Went Up by 18%
Boost Purchases Went Up by 18%
The Boost feature (paid swipes) was hidden away in the old design and didn’t explain its value properly.
In the redesign, I added:
• Small prompts that showed up right when users hit their swipe limit.
• A quick one-tap purchase option right from the swipe screen.
This made the feature easier to notice and use at the right moment, which helped improve conversions.
- Research -
Stakeholder Interviews
Since I had to keep the original design language intact, the first thing I wanted to do was really get into the minds of the people running this product i.e. the stakeholders.
Key Questions & Purpose
1. What’s the primary success metric for the app?
2. Which parts of the UI are causing the most complaints from users?
3. What features are most important to keep untouched?
Insights Gained
• Stakeholders wanted to increase paid feature adoption (Boosts, subscriptions) but without making the app feel too “pushy.”
• The core swipe interaction was non-negotiable because it defined the app’s identity and competitive positioning.
• There were also consistent complaints about navigation and accidental taps which gave me the space to focus on reducing friction without breaking the familiarity of the brand.
Usability Testing on Existing App
Tested with 8 participants (4 job seekers, 4 employers)
• Asked them to:
1. Switch from “Employee” to “Employer” mode.
2. Swipe through 5 job/candidate profiles.
3. Match and start a conversation.
4. Check swipe limits and upgrade plan.
• Findings:
1. 60% couldn’t find the role-switch button within 10 seconds.
2. 70% of first-time users said the icons felt “confusing” or “too similar,” which slowed down navigation.
3. 25% increase in reported frustration when switching between “Job Seeker” and “Employer” modes.
Heuristic Evaluation
I evaluated app against Nielsen’s 10 usability heuristics.
Found violations in:
1. Visibility of system status (no feedback on swipe limits).
2. Consistency and standards (inconsistent icon styles).
3. Recognition over recall (role-switch lacked clear indicators).
4. Aesthetic & Minimalist Design (inconsistent spacing, colourful and stretched icons)
- Final Designs -
Before & After Screens