Unlock Design - Internship
Time Frame
August - December 2022
Role
UI/UX Designer Intern
Platform
Website
Introduction
Unlock Design is a Japanese company specializing in recruiting high-class foreign IT engineers. The company connects top tech talent with global opportunities, blending Japanese precision with international expertise.
Background Story
The project started with a brief from Unlock Design's C-level team.
Their website felt outdated and no longer represented the company’s growth or values. I was asked to redesign it into a modern and intuitive platform that aligns with their global mission.
The goal was to build a digital presence that reflects who they are today and supports where they are headed next.
Team
I collaborated directly with the C-level team throughout the project to ensure the redesign aligned with the company’s strategic vision and goals.
Findings
Outdated UI
The overall visual design felt old-fashioned and inconsistent with modern design standards, which affected the brand's credibility.Unclear Header and Landing Page
The hero section lacked visual hierarchy and strong messaging, making it difficult for users to understand what the company does at first glance.Information Gaps
Key content was either buried or missing, leading to confusion about the company’s services, mission, and value proposition.
Defining the Problem
How might we reduce the drop rate and enhance the user experience in the landing page and other sites?
Goals
Business goals:
Strengthen brand credibility through a modern and professional digital presence
Clearly communicate the company’s mission and services to a global audience
Increase engagement and conversion by improving content structure and visual appeal
Support talent acquisition and client outreach with a more intuitive user experience
User goals:
Quickly understand what Unlock Design does and how it can help them
Easily navigate the site to find relevant information
Trust the company through a polished, consistent design and clear messaging
Access key actions such as applying for jobs or contacting the team with minimal friction
Process
Understand the Problem ➝ User & Market Research ➝ Define Goals ➝ Ideation & Wireframing ➝ Design & Prototyping ➝ Design Critique ➝ Handoff
Research and Ideation
The project began with several in-depth discussions with the C-level team to understand their vision, business priorities, and the limitations of the current website. These conversations provided valuable insights into what the new site needed to communicate and how it should function.
At the same time, I explored websites from top tech companies, recruiting platforms, and design-led agencies to gather visual and structural inspiration. This research helped define a clear direction that aligns with Unlock Design’s identity and speaks effectively to a global audience.
From these inputs, I established key design principles focused on clarity, credibility, and simplicity to guide the entire redesign process.
Results
The redesign led to noticeable improvements in user experience, brand perception, and internal satisfaction:
Improved clarity and trust on landing page, reducing user confusion.
Modernized brand image, aligning with global audience expectations.
Faster user understanding of company value and services.
Increased engagement through better content structure and design.
Positive internal feedback from C-level stakeholders on the redesign.
Key Takeaways
Outdated UI hurt credibility
Redesigned with modern, consistent visuals.Confusing content flow
Improved hierarchy and messaging clarity.Hidden key info
Surfaced important content for better user understanding.Clear UX focus
Reduce drop rate and improve landing page experience.