New Website. Enhanced Connectivity.
The Recursive Thinking group embarked on an exciting journey to create a new website that would amplify our mission and attract top-tier talent. Recognizing the need for professionals to interact regardless of their location, we integrated an online portal to facilitate seamless networking. This platform allows members, whether they’ve taken jobs across the country or are deployed overseas, to continue participating.
Member Insights. Global Connectivity.
To gather valuable insights, we interviewed 40 of Recursive Thinking’s most engaged members, capturing diverse experiences from newcomers to seasoned veterans. Conversations with stakeholders provided context about the group’s evolution and future directions. A clear theme emerged: members desired to tap into the knowledge and camaraderie of the Recursive Thinking community, regardless of location or time constraints, highlighting the need for a platform supporting career advancement through our global network.
Vision Workshops. Clear Requirements.
To align our team’s vision and pinpoint key product requirements, I facilitated persona and user journey workshops. We created three core personas and mapped their journeys, capturing user needs, goals, and pain points. These workshops provided insights into how our platform could meet these requirements, visualizing critical moments and potential pain points. This process fostered a shared understanding, enabling us to define clear product requirements aligned with our target audience’s needs and aspirations.
Mind Mapping. Empowered Personas.
I facilitated a mind-mapping workshop to integrate the central theme from our interviews into each persona. We focused on empowering personas to leverage Recursive Thinking’s resources and community to advance their careers during leisure hours. This process identified shared needs and patterns, helping us prioritize features for maximum impact across our user base.
Version 1 Information Architecture
Version 2 Information Architecture
Version 3 Information Architecture
Mentoring Solutions. Community Growth.
Over three product releases, we addressed mentoring challenges in the Recursive Thinking community. We created a directory to help members find mentors, fostering connections and professional growth. We identified three key objectives for lessons—strategic planning, topic relevance, and customized instruction—and implemented transparent schedules and better communication. We also brought resume reviews, portfolio evaluations, and project assessments online, enabling members to grow from any location and reinforcing our commitment to an inclusive learning environment.
Prototype Showcase. Empowered Learning.
I led the creation of a high-fidelity prototype for Version 3 of our platform to showcase its functionalities. We used this prototype for user testing, gathering feedback to ensure alignment with our goals. V3 integrated lessons, resource sharing, resume reviews, and mentorship matching, empowering members in a dynamic learning environment. This centralization shifted physical meetups to focus on networking and live lessons, fostering a collaborative atmosphere for growth.