Web Experience Strategy & Design Exploration
Design exploration focused on visual refinement and modernization across ZipRecruiter's core web experiences. The work examined how photography, typography, and UI polish could elevate the brand aesthetic while maintaining proven conversion patterns.
These explorations informed strategic discussions around visual design direction and helped establish principles for imagery, hierarchy, and interface details across the platform.
Page 1: Employer Experience
The employer homepage exploration focused on visual modernization while maintaining the core conversion structure. Key refinements included:
Photography direction - Shifted to lifestyle-oriented imagery to create stronger emotional connection
UI polish - Added depth and dimensionality to form elements, refined typography hierarchy
Contextual details - Introduced real-time elements like the "New Candidate!" notification to reinforce value proposition
Background treatment - Dark hero creates stronger contrast and draws focus to the conversion form
The goal was aesthetic elevation while preserving proven conversion patterns.
Animations on the Employer page
Employer page, desktop + mobile
Motion
Lightweight motion was explored as a tool to:
Guide user attention to key actions
Create visual interest without overwhelming content
Reinforce brand personality through pacing and easing
Support comprehension by revealing information progressively
Page 2: Job Seeker Experience
The job seeker homepage exploration emphasized visual storytelling and diversity representation. Design refinements included:
Inclusive imagery - Profile photos representing diverse job seekers created more relatable, human-centered experience
Dynamic photography - Energy and movement in hero imagery reinforced the active job search journey
Mobile-first emphasis - Refined app mockups and UI presentation reflected real usage patterns
Visual clarity - Improved whitespace and typography hierarchy for better scanability
The focus was on creating emotional connection while maintaining the functional simplicity job seekers need.
Impact & Outcomes
This visual design exploration informed discussions around brand evolution and established principles for:
Photography direction and art direction standards
UI polish and interface detail expectations
Typography and hierarchy systems
Motion as a functional design tool
The work served as a reference point for future design decisions as the brand continued to evolve.