Problem

We always had lots of applications for our data entry position, and since that’s a job that doesn’t have many requirements, we had lots of applications. Separating good candidates from the bad ones was hard and we spent 25 minutes on average evaluating each person before even interviewing them. We needed to make this process feasible by reducing the time required for hiring each person.

But there was one other major problem, most people quit the job without even working for a year. We needed to increase the retention rate drastically!

Solution

We created automation, which would make candidates self-qualify themselves for an interview. First, we had a fully automated system, which would eliminate the candidates who knew for a fact that weren’t a good fit. A partly automated second stage would require us to spend 5 minutes at most on each candidate and qualify them for an interview.

To solve the problem with the retention rate, we took a closer look at the data we had. We decided to create a system that would eliminate the people that wouldn’t be a good fit, which was also the first stage of the funnel.

Research

  • We found the pain points for the current employees.
  • Based on the people who kept working and who left, we identified who would be a bad fit for the job.
  • We also identified who would prefer to work for years.
  • We created a basic test to evaluate if the applicant is a bad fit for the job.
  • We created a test to evaluate if the applicant is a good fit for the job.
  • Results


    With the new system, we didn’t have to spend any time with the applicant who did not pass the basic test, which effected our rates positively.

    74% Reduction in Time Spent on Each Hire

    We used to spend 25 minutes on each applicant and 30 minutes on each interview and total time spent on each hire were 233 minutes. After we created the hiring funnel, we started spending only 5 minutes on each qualified applicant and spent 30 minutes on each interview. Which made the total time spent on each hire 61 minutes.

    229% Increase in Employee Retention

    While spending more time with a person helps to get to know that person better, it is not the most effective way. After identifying the what makes a bad candidate and a good candidate for the jobs, we managed to find the right people for the job. Fewer people quit, raising our retention rates for employees who worked for more than a year, by 229%.

    Problem

    In a busy city where people don’t even have time to go to a tailor’s shop to get measured, getting orders over the phone and coming up with the pricing on the fly were big problems.

    Solution

    We designed the service from the ground up to allow receiving orders and delivering them while providing a wonderful experience both for our client and their customers. We created a measurement guide, which allowed them to get the correct information from their customers, eliminating measurement errors and increasing customer happiness.

    Research

    With our research, we were able to identify the root cause of communication problems, which was getting the measurement information from the customers. Since the customers didn’t know how to measure themselves, that led to incorrect measurements, which led to unhappy customers.

    Results

    800% Increase in Qualified Orders

    After the website went live, Cosplay Tailor got a big spike in their costume orders, getting 8 times more qualified orders than they used to get. Especially when there were a lot of cosplay events, tailor shop started to work on a full capacity to fulfill orders.

    Measurement Guide

    One of the biggest issues for Cosplay Tailor was getting the incorrect measurements from the people who measured themselves. With an easily understandable and fun guide for taking measurements, we were able to fix the problem. With every order, the client would get the guide with a list of measurements needed and this guide made the process smoother and easier for both Cosplay Tailor and their clients.

    Branding

    Naming

    Our client needed a brand that would reflect the quality of the costumes they sew. We have learned that most people who ordered costumes from them were cosplayers. After the research, we had the idea for the perfect brand: Cosplay Tailor.

    Slogan

    After the name, a slogan was needed to make the brand desirable. We have learned that it was really common for cosplayers to create their own costumes, but some people who did this as a hobby didn’t have time to create their own. Since cosplay as a word, is the combination of the words costume and play, we found out that people who were focused on the play side of cosplay would be the main target. And considering that information, the main slogan was ready:

    “We are here for your costume needs. Let us create your costume, while you focus on your play.”


    Problem

    I already had a website for a long time and I have been using designs by other designers. As I advanced in my career, I needed a website that reflects me and the work I do in a professional manner.

    Solution

    As a designer, I needed to present myself better by creating a quality design. Since the content is the most important aspect of this website, I focused on that. Using KISS principles, I decided on what needed to be on the website. In the end, I created a minimal and a content focused website.

    Homepage

    Homepages are where a website makes the first impression with its visitors and since this is a personal website I chose to use it as an introduction to myself.

    Blog & Other Writings

    I decided to separate my writings into two sections; my blog would contain my writing on design and development and, everything else would go under “Other Writings”.

    Style Guide

    Even though I haven’t used it anywhere before, orange has been the main color of my identity for long years. It only made sense for me to create my design with orange in the center.

    Under the KISS principle, I created a minimal style guide, containing colors, fonts, and required elements. After creating the style guide on Sketch, I started coding my website.

    Problem

    With previous research, we identified that there were a lot of people who attended events by buying their costumes and there were also a lot of people who did not want to spend a long time with research for their next cosplay. We needed to find a solution that allowed people to find and buy the items they wanted without spending too much of their valuable time.

    Solution

    After a brainstorming session, Cosplay Watch started to form as a product. The main purpose of the Cosplay Watch would be to inspire cosplayers and help them identify their needs for a cosplay. We would design pinnable cards that would include all the elements that are necessary to cosplay a specific character, providing a visual shopping list. Also to allow cosplayers to easily buy all of the items for that cosplay, all of the elements would be displayed with their prices. The same would apply to the blog of the portal, allowing cosplayers with an option to buy other items that they might need for the hobby. Aside from the cosplay ideas that would be published on the website weekly, friday would be the day for the casual cosplay. And that would allow cosplayers to bring their favorite characters in their daily lives. Also, they would have an option to subscribe to a newsletter list that would allow them to get those ideas in their inbox.

    Research

    We were able to identify cosplay lovers that were also busy with their own lives. There were people who wanted to attend events, at least the ones nearby and needed costumes for each event. But due to their busy lives, they sometimes didn’t even have the time to find the right items for the character they wanted to cosplay. There were also a lot of young people who loved cosplay but didn’t know how to get started and we found out that their parents would help in those situations.

    Results

    With branding in place and website live, it didn’t take us a long time to see that we were on the right track. People with the need for finding their items started visiting and purchasing their costumes. Pinnable easy cosplay shopping cards soon started to serve its purpose by finding their way into Pinterest boards of visitors.

    Pinneable Easy Cosplay Shopping Cards

    Pinnable cards were the main element of Cosplay Watch. Cards were designed to show all items that are needed for any specific character, creating a visual shopping list. Under the cards, who that character was and which show they were from would be noted. This would allow the cosplayers visiting the cards to pin the cards on Pinterest and they would be able to see every detail when they wanted to cosplay that character.

    Branding

    Making things easy for cosplayers was Cosplay Watch’s whole purpose, easy was the word to focus on. And it would be focusing on young people, it needed to be a lively and modern brand.
    With a brand language focusing on easy ideas, the slogan would show how practical brand would be for the users:

    “Everything You Need For Cosplay”

    Problem

    People have security issues when it comes to anything crypto and blockchain.
    Having confusing and uninviting experiences only amplify the problem.

    Solution

    Creating a user-focused onboarding system and a dashboard for users to increase the sense of security and friendliness.

    Challenge

    We only had 24 hours to create a product. That meant we didn’t have much time to test our assumptions and experience took precedence over research.

    Process

    – We identified the problems with the current process to come up with a product idea.
    – Optimizing the process with a user-focused product was our solution.
    – We designed an intuitive UI to make it possible.
    – We created a prototype to present our solution.

    Results

    With our presentation, we managed to create awareness about the UX and being user-focused in general. Here is our prototype