Designing an AI-Powered Interview Prep Platform for Students

Introduction

This case study details my 24-hour design sprint focused on creating a student-centered platform for AI-powered interview preparation. The goal was to build a prototype that provided realistic and engaging interview practice using AI bots, offering personalized feedback and a less anxiety-inducing environment than traditional live interviews.

• Project Name: AI Interview Prep
• Role: UX/UI Designer
• Duration: 24 hours
• Team Size: 1
• Tools Used: Figma

Problem Statement

Many students and early-career professionals struggle with interview anxiety and lack access to effective practice opportunities. Live interviews can be high-pressure and rarely offer detailed feedback. This project aimed to address this by designing a platform that offers personalized, AI-driven interview practice in a low-pressure setting.

Objectives and Goals

The primary objective was to create a functional prototype within 24 hours that demonstrated an intuitive user flow, engaging AI interaction, and clear performance tracking. Success was measured by the completion rate of key tasks within the prototype, the clarity of AI interactions, and the visual consistency of the interface.

Research and Insights

My research involved analyzing existing interview prep tools and considering common user pain points. I focused on understanding how to create an AI interaction that felt supportive and helpful, rather than cold or robotic. This understanding informed my persona development and design decisions. Competitive analysis focused on identifying best practices and areas for innovation.

Ideation and Concept Development

The ideation process involved sketching multiple flows and interface layouts, focusing on simplicity and clarity. I iterated on these ideas based on self-assessment and considered how the interface might adapt to various question types and AI response styles. The priority was an intuitive and easy-to-navigate experience.

High Fidelity Designs

Design Process

I started with low-fidelity wireframes in Figma to map out user flows. These were then iterated upon, incorporating feedback from self-testing and focusing on the clarity of each step. The high-fidelity prototype was developed concurrently, focusing on visual consistency and a clean aesthetic. User testing was limited due to time constraints but was conducted during the design process through continuous self-testing and revisions.

Challenges and Solutions

The major challenge was designing engaging and realistic AI-human interaction within a 24-hour timeframe. This was addressed by prioritizing core user needs, focusing on clear visual communication, and simplifying complex AI interactions through careful planning and concise design choices. The key lesson was that clarity and simplicity are paramount, especially within time constraints.

Final Outcome

The project resulted in a fully functional prototype demonstrating the platform’s core features, user flow, and visual design within 24 hours. The prototype showcases an intuitive interface for accessing and interacting with AI interview bots, tracking performance, and receiving personalized feedback. While the project was not launched, it served as a strong portfolio piece and a valuable learning experience.

Learnings and Reflections

This sprint highlighted the importance of prioritizing core user needs and focusing on clarity in rapid prototyping. It emphasized the value of iterative design and self-testing to quickly refine designs. Moving forward, I will maintain this focus on clarity and efficiency in future projects.

Conclusion

The AI Interview Prep prototype, built within a 24-hour design sprint, successfully demonstrated the viability of a user-friendly AI-powered interview preparation platform. The project’s success lies in its clear focus on user needs and effective application of rapid prototyping methodologies. Future development would involve integrating more advanced AI features and extensive user testing to refine the experience further.