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HBCU Recruit Me – Mobile App 

iOS & Android

To optimize the HBCU Recruit Me app to drive usability, visual clarity, and launch readiness. Provide UI/UX audit, marketing asset creation, and full product support through to public launch.

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Overview | Why it works | Design Process | Research | Background  

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Bridging Culture + Function

HBCU Recruit Me set out to empower high school students—especially Black youth—with a direct line to HBCU recruiters, application tools, and personalized attention. It was built to answer the question: “What if choosing your future school felt like choosing your legacy?” But when I joined, the mobile app had already launched a beta… and the experience lacked clarity, energy, and flow. Pages felt flat. Actions weren’t intuitive. And the brand didn’t yet feel like an HBCU experience. I was brought in to rethink the product’s user experience and visual identity.

 

My mission:

  • Restructure the app from top to bottom

  • Create launch-ready marketing assets

  • Capture a cultural voice that felt bold, helpful, and trustworthy

Tools I Used to Complete this Sprint

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Figma 

Used for: 

  • Design Journal

  • Mockups

  • Pitch Decks

  • Prototypes

  • Design Library
     

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Wix

Used for: 

  • Style Guide

  • Mockups

  • Pitch Decks

  • Prototypes

  • Design Library

  • Component Kit
     

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Phase 1: UX Audit & Problem Discovery

I started by tearing the app apart screen by screen — treating it like a new student landing on campus for the first time.

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What I found:

  • Important actions like contacting recruiters were buried or text-only

  • Navigation required multiple taps to reach critical flows

  • Visual hierarchy lacked punch — everything looked the same

  • The brand had potential, but the layout didn’t do it justice

 

I documented pain points in Figma and created UX teardown notes with screenshots, annotations, and proposed layout swaps. Every issue was tied to user value: Is this helping students take the next step?

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Phase 2: Wireframes & Structural Rebuild

From there, I created wireframes to rebuild the app’s information architecture:

 

Goals:

Reduce taps to complete tasks

Give visual priority to next steps (e.g., "Apply," "Explore," "Connect")

Add warmth and rhythm to the interface

 

Key Changes:

Replaced top-heavy nav with a bottom tab bar

Introduced card-style layouts for content blocks

Added CTAs like “Message a Recruiter” to replace static info

Unified buttons, fonts, and spacing using Wix adaptable component libraries

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Phase II 1.png
Phase II 1.png

Phase 3: Visual Design & Brand Alignment

I refined the UI to reflect a modern, student-first identity while keeping roots in cultural pride.

Used bold accent colors for important decisions and CTAs

Created color tokens based on branding guidelines

Balanced modern typography with easy legibility and rhythm

Designed 1:1 ratio cards for school previews, messages, and actions

 

 

I created a small design system inside Figma with:

Button variants (active, hover, disabled)

Type hierarchy (H1–H4, body, caption)

Icon grid

Color tokens for dev handoff

Phase 4: Beta Testing & Feedback Loops

I walked beta users through prototypes of the new experience using direct observation and feedback collection.

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What they said:

  • “This feels more like an app for me, not just another tool.”

  • “Now I know where to start and what to do next.”

  • “Before, I didn’t even know I could message a recruiter.”

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Based on that, I:

  • Added better section headers

  • Refined icon spacing and contrast

  • Included soft animation between page transitions to reduce mental fatigue

Phase 5: Launch Assets & Go-Live

On top of the product work, I also created all key visual assets for marketing:

App Store screenshots (highlighting new features)

Teaser GIFs showing onboarding & recruiter contact

Flyer & email graphics

Pitch deck visual input and layout polish

Social content mockups for Instagram rollout

I also supported the App Store submission process by reviewing metadata, descriptions, and screenshots to align with UX flow.

Outcomes

  • App launched on time (Jan 19) across both platforms

  • Beta engagement increased by over 40% after redesign

  • Students reported greater confidence and ease navigating the app

  • The product now feels like an extension of the HBCU mission: grounded, bold, and personal

Next Steps

  • UX strategy for post-launch content (student stories, campus features)

  • Introduce achievement badges for actions like “first message” or “profile complete”

  • Analytics review + design iteration scheduled for 60 days post-launch

Reflection

This project reminded me how design is more than visual polish — it’s about cultural context, emotional timing, and meeting users where they are.

 

HBCU Recruit Me wasn’t just about applying to college. It was about reclaiming pride, visibility, and possibility — and my role was to make sure that journey felt intuitive, personal, and powerful from the first tap.

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