Redesigning Immigration Technology

Immigration processes are notoriously complex, overwhelming, and anxiety-inducing. Plymouth Street approached me with an MVP web application that helped skilled workers and their employers navigate the US visa application process, but the application needed to be able to help users submit the correct documents, understand their application status, and keep applicants (and employers) moving forward quickly. I was tasked with completely overhauling their product experience over an intensive six-week period.

As the lead product designer, I needed to understand the intricate world of immigration law while designing for two distinct user groups: anxious visa applicants managing life-changing paperwork, and busy HR professionals coordinating multiple applications. The challenge was creating a system that could handle the complexity of immigration requirements while feeling approachable and trustworthy to users in high-stress situations.

I first audited the existing MVP to identify usability issues and interviewed team members to learn the biggest pain points. I then began developing an app dashboard and task flow concept that would serve as the foundation for all applicants to see exactly where they are in the process and what they need to do next.

I created a web UI color system with carefully chosen accessibility ratios, a typographic hierarchy that could handle complex legal information, and a library of base components that could be composed into larger UI patterns.

The design system included everything from atomic elements like buttons and form fields to complex components like document upload workflows and progress tracking interfaces. I crafted distinct but cohesive experiences for the applicant dashboard, employer management interface, and Plymouth's internal CRM tools. Each interface was designed to reduce cognitive load while maintaining the professional credibility essential for immigration services.

I established design tokens for spacing, typography, and color that ensured consistency across all platforms while allowing for future scalability. The component library I created included interactive states, accessibility considerations, and detailed documentation for the development team. Special attention was paid to document management workflows, progress visualization, and communication tools that would help users feel confident throughout their immigration journey.

The redesigned platform significantly improves user comprehension and task completion rates. The new design system provided Plymouth Street with a scalable foundation for rapid product development while maintaining consistency across all user touchpoints. Most importantly, the redesign transforms a confusing, overwhelming process into an empowering tool for skilled workers and their employers to navigate one of life's most important processes with confidence.