https://schairer.design KELLY SCHAIRER / UX Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:03 +0000 https://schairer.design en https://schairer.design/INDEX-2026a Thu, 01 Oct 2026 21:22:33 +0000 KELLY SCHAIRER / UX https://schairer.design/INDEX-2026a Kelly Schairer is a product designer based in Brooklyn, New York. Case Study #1:RiseKit Career Navigator Dashboard Case Study #2:Admiral Dashboard Redesign https://schairer.design/DESIGN Thu, 30 Jul 2020 19:55:17 +0000 KELLY SCHAIRER / UX https://schairer.design/DESIGN DESIGN <img width="1440" height="900" width_o="1440" height_o="900" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/155bcc082df50f46d60ff0fddb994bc4746d4bfb4466b87564c578af8133514e/ad-preview.png" data-mid="78752336" border="0" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/155bcc082df50f46d60ff0fddb994bc4746d4bfb4466b87564c578af8133514e/ad-preview.png" /> Case Study #1: Admiral Dashboard Admiral is a SaaS Platform that provides digital publishers with tools to increase and maintain the revenue they earn through site traffic. How can a redesigned user dashboard help “The Visitor Relationship Management Company” deepen their relationship with clients?Read Case Study ➔ <img width="1710" height="730" width_o="1710" height_o="730" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/10e3e785defa49ca2f57f4d0939f441afe6dd9461709484df86a60156544850b/mm-preview.png" data-mid="78753608" border="0" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/10e3e785defa49ca2f57f4d0939f441afe6dd9461709484df86a60156544850b/mm-preview.png" /> Case Study: MoodmirrorMoodmirror is a native mobile mood log that demystifies the relationship between a user’s mind and body. How can tracking patterns in physical and mental health help millennials develop better habits?&nbsp;Read Case Study ➔ <img width="1440" height="900" width_o="1440" height_o="900" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8e573731616e6f3ff321075c2b21ceb792758e10533fb12fbdd582cfa1d2c1ba/sb-preview.png" data-mid="78753622" border="0" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/8e573731616e6f3ff321075c2b21ceb792758e10533fb12fbdd582cfa1d2c1ba/sb-preview.png" /> Case Study: SkillboxSkillbox is a web-based platform where independent instructors can organize classes and connect with students. How can an event management platform provide hobbyist educators with the resources they need to earn a living from their passion?Read Case Study ➔ https://schairer.design/Case-Study-Jobseekers Thu, 01 Oct 2026 23:46:11 +0000 KELLY SCHAIRER / UX https://schairer.design/Case-Study-Jobseekers <img width="2043" height="889" width_o="2043" height_o="889" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e0416d1f1f92f661d7cf2b327cdf3f428a085caf65a7790a46b9a754c6f1c4ae/TopGraphic.png" data-mid="252809440" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e0416d1f1f92f661d7cf2b327cdf3f428a085caf65a7790a46b9a754c6f1c4ae/TopGraphic.png" /> Case Study: RiseKitJobseekerExperienceRiseKit is a workforce development platform connecting jobseekers with right training, resources, and opportunities at the right time.&nbsp; How we help young jobseekers find a path forward with a system that speaks their language?Written by Kelly Schairer https://schairer.design/Jobseekers_Intro Thu, 01 Oct 2026 23:47:46 +0000 KELLY SCHAIRER / UX https://schairer.design/Jobseekers_Intro Introduction&nbsp; The Team I led design for this project in collaboration with a product manager and the head of product. Timeline and Tools The project was completed in 8 weeks. We conducted remote ideation and synthesis workshops in Miro, leveraged Vercel for rapid concept generation and prototyping, and used&nbsp;Figma as the primary design tool to carry designs from wireframes to high-fidelity mockups.&nbsp; My Role User Research and Synthesis I moderated user interviews with our clients in the form of a conversation about their current work flow, goals, and pain points. I also synthesized the qualitative data collected through these interviews into insights to guide the direction of the design. Product Marketing I coined narrative langage that shaped the delivery of this user experience, identifying and leveraging key phrases from the user research to establish product terminology that resonated with our research participants’ goals for the user experience.&nbsp; Wireframing and High-Fidelity MockupsI created every stage of the designs for this project in Figma, using our generated concepts as a reference to draft the inital wireframes, the initial set of MVP designs, and the final iterative high-fidelity mockups after collecting user feedback. https://schairer.design/Jobseeker_Challenge Thu, 01 Oct 2026 23:50:30 +0000 KELLY SCHAIRER / UX https://schairer.design/Jobseeker_Challenge Challenge Navigating the Workforce Development Space A Compass for Career NavigatorsThis redesign focused on a user type we call opportunity youth: young adults ages 18–24 who were currently enrolled in or had recently completed workforce programs While no twoare exactly the same, the shared objective of the career navigator is to help disadvantaged jobseekers pursue further education, additional nonprofit support, and professional opportunities.Every instance of friction in the career navigator’s workflow increases the risk that a client will fall through the cracks. The tools that career navigators use daily should remove obstacles from their workflow, not create new ones. Bring it All HomeFrom our prior conversations with career navigators prior to this redesign, we knew that workforce developments nonprofits tend to be chronically understaffed, requiring career navigators to cover multiple roles with no room to delegate.Career navigators have many responsibilities in common, but we needed to factor in the additional responsibilites varying from role to role. Key task flows for career navigators should start right on the homepage, with a wide variety of critical actions accesible from this central location. Mind the StopgapRiseKit was just one of many tools career navigators found necessary track client progress. They were patching their workflows together with an array of different single-use digital tools, many of which RiseKit should be able to replace. A tool that adds friction doesn't get used, and RiseKit was a "nice to have" rather than a genuine daily driver. We had to give career navigators a valuable reason to log in every day. https://schairer.design/RiseKit_Approach-copy-copy Thu, 01 Oct 2026 23:56:34 +0000 KELLY SCHAIRER / UX https://schairer.design/RiseKit_Approach-copy-copy The ApproachGathering Research Insights 40Young, underemployed jobseekers participated in our user research “I had no direction and no idea where to start”- D.C., Opportunity Youth research Participant User Research We conducted user interviews with 40 prospective uses representing the opportunity youth user typein in other words, young adults ages 18–24 who were currently enrolled in programs with our nonprofit partners. Interviews were structured as open-but-guided conversations, focusing on the topic of building and maintaining client relationships, and tools used in daily workflow. Here’s what we learned:Young people lack Next Steps, not Motivation Our research particpants were self-aware and ambitious.&nbsp; Life gets in the way Transportation, childcare, unstable housing, and unexpected emergencies were the things that interrupted progress most often.People Build Trust, Platforms Can Undermine ItTheir skepticism toward digital tools was real and rational. A platform that felt impersonal, extractive, or like "just another form to fill out" would face instant resistance. Something Else I HopeHi https://schairer.design/RiseKit_Discoveries-copy Thu, 01 Oct 2026 23:58:17 +0000 KELLY SCHAIRER / UX https://schairer.design/RiseKit_Discoveries-copy DiscoveriesForging a Design Path Defining the Problem With our synthesis of user research, we developed our problem statement:The RiseKit jobseeker experience needs to provide a clear and realisitic path to a career aligning with the user’s skills and interests so that young disadvantaged jobseekers can define and pursue a career goal without relying on prior knowledge of how the system works. (keep working on this) Approaching the SolutionWe also established four design principles to inform the direction of this redesign: <img width="400" height="400" width_o="400" height_o="400" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3a3ff47b51219a22efdef3e1edac3c18233fd4a37d6ce03a75bb9e42983b1d43/Flexible.svg" data-mid="252809290" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/400/i/3a3ff47b51219a22efdef3e1edac3c18233fd4a37d6ce03a75bb9e42983b1d43/Flexible.svg" /> FLEXIBLENo two caseloads are the same. This dashboard experience must lend itself to whatever tasks might get thrown at an understaffed career navigator that day.&nbsp; <img width="400" height="400" width_o="400" height_o="400" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/50d5b477152ae588e82644dde9d75e95886f9988d04b465c0456db20e99b1f28/Top-Down.svg" data-mid="252809292" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/400/i/50d5b477152ae588e82644dde9d75e95886f9988d04b465c0456db20e99b1f28/Top-Down.svg" /> TOP-DOWNAlthough it is a high priority for the design to quickly provide a birds-eye view of everything on the user’s plate, it should also be easy to focus in on details and impact individual cases. <img width="400" height="400" width_o="400" height_o="400" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6e0f139b5b954091b23caf7aa6ef3b08a3d82c57b4f371155c0e2e7a0fa193bd/Low-Lift.svg" data-mid="252809293" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/400/i/6e0f139b5b954091b23caf7aa6ef3b08a3d82c57b4f371155c0e2e7a0fa193bd/Low-Lift.svg" /> LOW-LIFTThe dashboard should bring the tools necessary for high-frequency tasks to the surface of the user experience, with task completion starting with the first click after login. <img width="400" height="400" width_o="400" height_o="400" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c0f53c33046e92fc5b22fe96eaf0ee6d211138cdf67cefef71ecd8f8736724ec/Constructive.svg" data-mid="252809291" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/400/i/c0f53c33046e92fc5b22fe96eaf0ee6d211138cdf67cefef71ecd8f8736724ec/Constructive.svg" /> CONSTRUCTIVEEvery design decision should serve the purpose of quickly helping and exiting clients, so career navigators can celebrate success and shift focus to their next case. https://schairer.design/RiseKit_Solutions-copy Thu, 01 Oct 2026 23:58:29 +0000 KELLY SCHAIRER / UX https://schairer.design/RiseKit_Solutions-copy SolutionsIdeation &amp; Validation Concept Prototyping Dashboard A combination of sketching, leverating generative AI, and conversations with our engineering team led us to the first iteration of our new dashboard: Dashboard ConceptClients are organized by action required: for example, newly assigned cases requiring intake and missing status updates for clients who were sent a support resource.The user’s full client list is also accesible, with accordions lightening cognitive weight to allow focus on a single objective. <img width="1440" height="790" width_o="1440" height_o="790" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/eaad42c18035c555bf31ce97e7e173bd5246cf4b7b56782066775314acba3378/Dash-v1---Missing.png" data-mid="252809305" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/eaad42c18035c555bf31ce97e7e173bd5246cf4b7b56782066775314acba3378/Dash-v1---Missing.png" /> <img width="1440" height="790" width_o="1440" height_o="790" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/03699d48913236a232b1414a875bd8d60f2ab991ee4172348e02c3b77443b0b3/Dash-v1---My-Clients.png" data-mid="252809306" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/03699d48913236a232b1414a875bd8d60f2ab991ee4172348e02c3b77443b0b3/Dash-v1---My-Clients.png" /> <img width="1440" height="790" width_o="1440" height_o="790" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6dd4011a802c2134c5ad93a1fae49adf1d533549d7b7201650bfcd2bf0d37cdc/Dash-v1---Recent.png" data-mid="252809307" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/6dd4011a802c2134c5ad93a1fae49adf1d533549d7b7201650bfcd2bf0d37cdc/Dash-v1---Recent.png" /> This concept prioritized a quick, lightweight glimpse at new clients in need of intake, recent communications requiring follow-up, and the latest updates to client profiles. Users can also quickly dive into management of organization personnel and their resource database. Control PanelThis dashboard concept uses a client-first task flow: users locate a client, then branch out into their specific objective from there.I designed this control panel experience to serve as the hub to access all information and tasks tied to each client’s case, eliminating the need to click back and forth between full-page user profiles. <img width="1440" height="790" width_o="1440" height_o="790" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/cc59912ae320fd48302edf5106f63d6784a0bd19c49a850cb8be4d687e56db0e/Control-Panel---QM.png" data-mid="252809310" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/cc59912ae320fd48302edf5106f63d6784a0bd19c49a850cb8be4d687e56db0e/Control-Panel---QM.png" /> <img width="1440" height="790" width_o="1440" height_o="790" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c17e7baedf0faa82f803cb91b394e657ed93f330ee8d1755c16a3aa5372703aa/Control-Panel---Info.png" data-mid="252809308" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/c17e7baedf0faa82f803cb91b394e657ed93f330ee8d1755c16a3aa5372703aa/Control-Panel---Info.png" /> <img width="1440" height="790" width_o="1440" height_o="790" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0bd1d023a377d701fe13e92964a9953bd570c73a0c4f660b38374cb19bdcd356/Control-Panel---Notes.png" data-mid="252809309" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0bd1d023a377d701fe13e92964a9953bd570c73a0c4f660b38374cb19bdcd356/Control-Panel---Notes.png" /> <img width="1440" height="790" width_o="1440" height_o="790" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5edcd2da95ad57f84493f475ce03061818cb60331af6f25de6b6f9900bcddac2/Control-Panel---Resources.png" data-mid="252809311" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/5edcd2da95ad57f84493f475ce03061818cb60331af6f25de6b6f9900bcddac2/Control-Panel---Resources.png" /> Control Panel ConceptA sidesheet where career navigators can quickly view and manage clients without straying from the dashboard.Any client’s control panel can be accessed by clicking the wrench next to their name. 9RiseKit clients walked through early designs during concept testing Concept TestingWe got back in touch with the clients who had participated in our initial round of research for feedback on the direction we were heading.Feedback was positive, but prompted valuable conversations about how this dashboard experience could be further refined and expanded to serve career navigator needs.&nbsp; Here’s how the direction for this redesign changed after presenting concepts for feedback: Pivot from Client-First to Stage-FirstOur users expressed a desire to see their client load in a more linear context, with clients categorized by their stage of the career development journey rather than by immediate action required. Recent activity could still be highlighted within these stage categories. Refine Client Journey StagesTo most effectively fulfill that last point, we needed to further leverage our reseach to more effectively define each stage of the client journey and key tasks performed during each stage. This would ultimately help career navigators visualize a path to victory for every client. Control Beyond the PanelTo retain the priority of simplicity and low cognitive weight as this dashboard grew more complex, we’d compromise by allowing clients to control what stages they personally considered high priority for their personal roles and responsibilities.We&nbsp; headed back to the drawing board to iterate with more confidence in our direction. https://schairer.design/RiseKit_Outcomes-copy Thu, 01 Oct 2026 23:59:37 +0000 KELLY SCHAIRER / UX https://schairer.design/RiseKit_Outcomes-copy Outcomes MVP Designs &amp; Reception Wireframes I created a full set of wireframes to represent our new idea for the dashboard experience. <img width="1440" height="800" width_o="1440" height_o="800" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f0c79d88772f2eb4921c63f43a37e160b6f7d76c268797ac85b818a779b9bd59/Dash-Final.png" data-mid="252809329" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f0c79d88772f2eb4921c63f43a37e160b6f7d76c268797ac85b818a779b9bd59/Dash-Final.png" /> <img width="1440" height="800" width_o="1440" height_o="800" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d171835c1aaac4b3c8260b81895d403b2e9e348242b9e1a42fd30d08c66178b3/Dash-Final---Missing-Outcomes.png" data-mid="252809330" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d171835c1aaac4b3c8260b81895d403b2e9e348242b9e1a42fd30d08c66178b3/Dash-Final---Missing-Outcomes.png" /> <img width="1440" height="800" width_o="1440" height_o="800" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/37875c51ee9325dd1e2cf28a3e4a59a769d7692091fb5e078126cfdd88599ccb/Dash-Final---Customize.png" data-mid="252809328" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/37875c51ee9325dd1e2cf28a3e4a59a769d7692091fb5e078126cfdd88599ccb/Dash-Final---Customize.png" /> A Stage-First Dashboard&nbsp;The final dashboard concept leverages the stage-first approach to task completion while retaining single-click access to Missing Outcomes and Client Updates. Stage ManagerEach stage category provides a detailed and constructive glimpse at user caseload, streamlined&nbsp; <img width="1440" height="800" width_o="1440" height_o="800" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9335490e4912cbd4c108321f98c07685fa16dd5892e0274ee188c81fc4d9129c/Stage-Manager---Barrier-Reduction.png" data-mid="252809331" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/9335490e4912cbd4c108321f98c07685fa16dd5892e0274ee188c81fc4d9129c/Stage-Manager---Barrier-Reduction.png" /> <img width="1440" height="800" width_o="1440" height_o="800" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e664b5b6d85372af102fb4b374a8cdeffb85dda1ba0150e30258421f8c3622ce/Stage-Manager---New-Signs.png" data-mid="252809333" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e664b5b6d85372af102fb4b374a8cdeffb85dda1ba0150e30258421f8c3622ce/Stage-Manager---New-Signs.png" /> <img width="1440" height="800" width_o="1440" height_o="800" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0ea70bdc0eb792d7c8bc6dd3318e66b7868e1e1ad0a2b44d0ad14d3a96e7668a/Stage-Manager---Program-Complete.png" data-mid="252809334" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0ea70bdc0eb792d7c8bc6dd3318e66b7868e1e1ad0a2b44d0ad14d3a96e7668a/Stage-Manager---Program-Complete.png" /> <img width="1440" height="800" width_o="1440" height_o="800" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/287e647f05a8cbfdca21db28bf49680f2405b8a73a7aef770eec5b2cfccae519/Stage-Manager---Enroll-Engage.png" data-mid="252809332" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/287e647f05a8cbfdca21db28bf49680f2405b8a73a7aef770eec5b2cfccae519/Stage-Manager---Enroll-Engage.png" /> <img width="4320" height="2400" width_o="4320" height_o="2400" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/96bafe26e113b2cf1f4d4aa3daf889401a57ef3a3664602a6de984a9870301c6/Smart-Groups.png" data-mid="252809335" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/96bafe26e113b2cf1f4d4aa3daf889401a57ef3a3664602a6de984a9870301c6/Smart-Groups.png" /> <img width="1440" height="800" width_o="1440" height_o="800" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a5782eb22cf402bc01e99f60fc83e2146c6e22e8cacc7a8223f3590d8da60bce/Bulk-Actions.png" data-mid="252809336" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/a5782eb22cf402bc01e99f60fc83e2146c6e22e8cacc7a8223f3590d8da60bce/Bulk-Actions.png" /> Smart Groups &amp; Bulk ActionsFor users with high-volume caseloads, smart groups identify clients with shared traits and bulk actions complete the same task for multiple selected clients. Actionable SidesheetsCritical actions for clients tailored to each stage of career development are available at the career navigator’s fingertips. <img width="1440" height="800" width_o="1440" height_o="800" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/dd4e3865bff8f98caf14ebd4f79513dcc6ff71c13a0e82ccd3f3b66a39691f5b/Sidesheet-PC.png" data-mid="252809339" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/dd4e3865bff8f98caf14ebd4f79513dcc6ff71c13a0e82ccd3f3b66a39691f5b/Sidesheet-PC.png" /> <img width="1440" height="800" width_o="1440" height_o="800" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1c07de6f29d810cad6d9173e56e862c5242d7f6da00b5be5caf80e4869296529/Sidesheet-BR.png" data-mid="252809337" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1c07de6f29d810cad6d9173e56e862c5242d7f6da00b5be5caf80e4869296529/Sidesheet-BR.png" /> <img width="1440" height="800" width_o="1440" height_o="800" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/fff25b538a4ebf7f75a56fbbd11c3050c5a8499d28726d47db011371bf05c7d5/Sidesheet-MAH.png" data-mid="252809338" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/fff25b538a4ebf7f75a56fbbd11c3050c5a8499d28726d47db011371bf05c7d5/Sidesheet-MAH.png" /> 12OUT OF 15 Surveyed Opportunity Youths Connected to Relevant Resources 200OR MORE hours saved per month by RiseKit super users after dashboard launched Client Feedback We reconnected with some of the opportunity youth who participated in our initial research to show them the new user experience and let them click around on their own.&nbsp; Here are some lalala:&nbsp; “Everyone should join, you might find your dream job and there are plenty of good resources.”- D.H., Feedback Participant “I would say it is a great way to deep dive into different career options based on your skill and trade.”- J.G., RiseKit Client “If you don’t know what you wanna do yet, RiseKit is a good place to start. It breaks things down and gives you real options.”- M.J., Feedback Participant https://schairer.design/Conclusion_RiseKit-copy Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:03 +0000 KELLY SCHAIRER / UX https://schairer.design/Conclusion_RiseKit-copy Conclusion Final Thoughts Future RecommendationsMobile ExperienceAlthough this redesign prioritized the desktop experience for the MVP, I also designed a set of high-fidelity wireframes to demonstrate how the user experience could be seamlessly translated to a mobile browser. <img width="1670" height="832" width_o="1670" height_o="832" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ffbc3a49d711a0d989cfee83b8f645fd09e43c52dade010311d828d8a92764be/Mobile-Screens.png" data-mid="252809344" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ffbc3a49d711a0d989cfee83b8f645fd09e43c52dade010311d828d8a92764be/Mobile-Screens.png" /> Mobile&nbsp; MockupsThe mobile experience further streamlines the dashboard, highlighting key functionality that career navigators need to access in the field. Takeaways and ObservationsLooking back on this project, here’s what I learned:Revisit Your Research to RefineOur mid-project round of concept testing feedback challenged the initial directon we’d planned to take for this design. By taking this as an opportunity to further interrogate what we’d learned about the problem space, we were able to develop a deeper foundation for the user experience increase the impact of our final product. Reject Deveptive SimplicityNot everything can be simplified according to your earliest instincts. Balance the alluring priority of the lightest possible cognitive weight with a realistic understanding of everything your interface needs to accomplish.&nbsp; Quote Me On ThatSome of the language and narrative that shaped this project came directly from our conversations with clients during the user interview stage. As important as it is to synthesize and transform your research, there’s valuable texture to be found within those raw transcripts from your user interviews. &nbsp;☁ ← Back toPortfolio Index ↑ Jump to Top of Page → Next Case Study: RiseKit Jobseeker Experience