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Summary
Taking design from 0 to 1
Taking design from 0 to 1
Product Design
Brand Design
Illustration
Mapt is a startup helping thousands of families turn college planning stress into success with accessible AI-powered advising. As a founding product designer, I had a hand in many parts of design including marketing, illustrations, branding, animations, and more.
Mapt is a startup helping thousands of families turn college planning stress into success with accessible AI-powered advising. As a founding product designer, I had a hand in many parts of design including marketing, illustrations, branding, animations, and more.
Skills
Skills
UI/UX design, graphic design, illustration, animation, you name it!
UI/UX design, graphic design, illustration, animation, you name it!
Duration
Duration
September 2023 - present
September 2023 - present
Software
Software
Figma, Adobe Suite, Customer.io, Rive, Lottie
Figma, Adobe Suite, Customer.io, Rive, Lottie
Branding
Branding
Laying the foundation
Laying the foundation
I was brought onto the team during a period of huge transition. The app was completely rebranding itself from Undecided to Mapt, and needed a fresh look.
I was brought onto the team during a period of huge transition. The app was completely rebranding itself from Undecided to Mapt, and needed a fresh look.
The Logo
The Logo
I drafted dozens of sketches. Most of them are “stream-of-consciousness” style - if I had an idea, I’d grab the nearest pen and paper to jot it down, and worry about being tidy later. Next was refinement - I took my best ideas and brought them to the digital world. I wanted to go beyond the standard book or graduation cap motifs. I explored themes of ascending, growth, wayfinding, and more.
I drafted dozens of sketches. Most of them are “stream-of-consciousness” style - if I had an idea, I’d grab the nearest pen and paper to jot it down, and worry about being tidy later. Next was refinement - I took my best ideas and brought them to the digital world. I wanted to go beyond the standard book or graduation cap motifs. I explored themes of ascending, growth, wayfinding, and more.
Concept sketches and iterations
Concept sketches and iterations
The final logo is a combination of a star and leaves, which emphasizes the key principles of Mapt - our goal is to have students is grow into stars, and we will be their north star in finding their future.
The final logo is a combination of a star and leaves, which emphasizes the key principles of Mapt - our goal is to have students is grow into stars, and we will be their north star in finding their future.
The basics
The basics
What’s a design system without the foundation? Beyond that, what’s a team without their core principles? I worked closely with the founding members and fellow designers to set the stage for our future design choices.
What’s a design system without the foundation? Beyond that, what’s a team without their core principles? I worked closely with the founding members and fellow designers to set the stage for our future design choices.
Interface design
Interface design
Shaping the app experience
Shaping the app experience
Working in close, real-time collaboration with our developers, we launched an overall rebrand and overhaul of our current features based on user feedback.
Each new feature redesign would begin with a brainstorm with the team, where we would discuss how to create the best version of the app based on analytics and feedback. Then, it would be passed off to me, where I’d map out flows and shape the UI.
Working in close, real-time collaboration with our developers, we launched an overall rebrand and overhaul of our current features based on user feedback.
Each new feature redesign would begin with a brainstorm with the team, where we would discuss how to create the best version of the app based on analytics and feedback. Then, it would be passed off to me, where I’d map out flows and shape the UI.
Roadmap made more engaging and motivating. Read all about it here!
Roadmap made more engaging and motivating. Read all about it here!
Added sorting and organization to college list, aligned with app design system
Added sorting and organization to college list, aligned with app design system
Discover courses are more imagery-based for greater engagement
Discover courses are more imagery-based for greater engagement
Illustrations
Crafting visuals at scale
Crafting visuals at scale
As the sole illustrator on the team, I was charged with creating any and all illustrations for the app experience. Thanks to the illustration system that I established, I was able to create quality visuals efficiently and consistently.
As the sole illustrator on the team, I was charged with creating any and all illustrations for the app experience. Thanks to the illustration system that I established, I was able to create quality visuals efficiently and consistently.
Discover course thumbnails
Discover course thumbnails
Courses are sorted into subjects, which use different primary and secondary colors for cohesion.
Courses are sorted into subjects, which use different primary and secondary colors for cohesion.
Spot illustrations
Spot illustrations
Sprinkled throughout the app whenever needed
Sprinkled throughout the app whenever needed
Animations
For extra delight! Made with Rive, After Effects, and/or LottieFiles
For extra delight! Made with Rive, After Effects, and/or LottieFiles
Marketing
Driving engagement
Driving engagement
I help out wherever I’m needed, which means I also occasionally create marketing collaterals. These are seen by thousands through channels such as Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, email, and more.
I help out wherever I’m needed, which means I also occasionally create marketing collaterals. These are seen by thousands through channels such as Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, email, and more.
Social media and merchandise
Social media and merchandise
Email campaigns
Email campaigns
Retention campaign sent through Customer.io
Retention campaign sent through Customer.io
Takeaways
Embracing growth
Embracing growth
This is a lot...
This is a lot...
I wanted to stay open and flexible to new things to learn all that I could. This meant that I’ve worked projects that require many different skills.
I wanted to stay open and flexible to new things to learn all that I could. This meant that I’ve worked projects that require many different skills.
... And we’re still going!
... And we’re still going!
Everything is a work in progress, and always subject to reworking and improvements. Though I’m happy with what I’ve made so far, the journey is far from over!
Everything is a work in progress, and always subject to reworking and improvements. Though I’m happy with what I’ve made so far, the journey is far from over!
Next project: Boosting retention and staying accountable ->
Next project: Boosting retention and staying accountable ->
Next project: Boosting retention and staying accountable ->
Let’s chat!
Say howdy at
kellyjincreative@gmail.com
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kellyjincreative@gmail.com
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kellyjincreative@gmail.com
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