NextUp Recruitment
Athlete Scholarship
NextUpRecruitment is a digital platform designed to connect student-athletes with college coaches, streamlining the recruitment process and maximizing scholarship opportunities. By offering tools for profile creation, direct communication, and personalized matching, the platform empowers athletes to take control of their athletic and academic futures.
Platform: Web App, Timeline: 2025
#Product Research
#UX Design
#UI Design
#Information Architecture
#Wireframe
#Style Guide
Founded by former college athletes and coaches, NextUpRecruitment aims to demystify the college recruitment journey. The vision was to create a centralized hub where athletes could showcase their talents, connect with a vast network of college programs, and access resources to navigate the recruitment landscape effectively.
The recruitment process can be overwhelming for student-athletes, with fragmented information and limited access to college coaches. The goal was to design an intuitive platform that simplifies this journey, providing athletes with the tools and support needed to secure scholarships and make informed decisions about their collegiate careers.
Through user-centric design and comprehensive research, we developed a platform that offers a seamless and intuitive experience for both student-athletes and college coaches. The interface was built to simplify key tasks such as profile creation, search, and communication while maintaining clarity and ease of use across devices. Features like real-time messaging, match insights, and profile analytics help athletes stay informed and take control of their recruitment journey. Since its launch, NextUp Recruitment has become a trusted platform in the student-athlete community. It has facilitated over 300 million dollars in scholarship funds and connected thousands of athletes with college programs worldwide, demonstrating how thoughtful design can open doors and drive meaningful outcomes.
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Users Satisfaction
NextUp Recruitment is built with features that support every step of the student-athlete recruitment journey. From creating detailed athletic profiles to connecting directly with college coaches, the platform simplifies communication and increases visibility for athletes worldwide.
Profile Overview
The Profile Overview provides a personalized snapshot of the athlete’s recruitment journey. Athletes can see their profile completion status, video highlights, school interests, and engagement metrics all in one place. With quick access to views, search results, and shortlist data, users stay informed about their visibility while managing their progress toward recruitment goals.
college search
The College Search feature allows athletes to explore schools based on their personal preferences and academic fit. Filters like division, conference, location, school type, and cost help narrow down options, while each listing includes key details such as GPA requirements, SAT/ACT scores, and tuition range. A match percentage makes it easy to see how well an athlete aligns with each program.
coach search
Coach Search allows athletes to browse and connect with college coaches by division, school, and program. The interface is designed to make it easy to filter through options and view detailed coach profiles that include contact information, roles, and school affiliations. Athletes can quickly identify the right programs and start meaningful conversations, helping them take an active role in their recruitment journey.
Messages
The Messages feature enables direct communication between student-athletes and college coaches in a focused and organized space. Athletes can respond to inquiries, ask questions, and build relationships with programs they are interested in. With real-time updates and conversation tracking, the messaging system helps both parties stay connected and move forward with clarity throughout the recruitment process.
email sequencing
The Email Sequencing feature allows athletes to automate outreach and manage follow-ups with college coaches in a structured and efficient way. Users can build targeted message flows, monitor open and response rates, and schedule personalized communication to stay consistently engaged. With clear status indicators and performance metrics, athletes are able to refine their strategy and improve their chances of getting noticed.
Before moving into high-fidelity design, we developed detailed wireframes to map out the platform’s core structure and user journeys. This allowed us to validate the information architecture, ensure intuitive navigation, and align the layout with user needs. Each screen was designed with a focus on clarity, reducing cognitive load while maintaining access to deep, actionable insights.
I created interactive wireframes that closely mirrored the final product experience, enabling realistic prototype simulations. These prototypes allowing us to test key hypotheses, gather feedback, and refine the user flow before moving into high fidelity.
The visual design of NextUp Recruitment is built to be clear, motivating, and user-friendly. We used a clean layout with strong visual hierarchy to help users focus on what matters most, from profile updates to scholarship opportunities. Bold accents guide attention, while consistent spacing and thoughtful typography ensure a smooth experience across every screen. The interface supports both athletes and coaches with clarity and confidence, creating a professional environment that still feels approachable and energetic.
The mobile experience of NextUp Recruitment is designed to be just as powerful and intuitive as the desktop platform. Every feature, from profile management to coach communication, is optimized for smaller screens without compromising clarity or usability. Clean layouts, responsive elements, and thoughtful navigation ensure that athletes can track opportunities, send messages, and manage their recruitment journey anytime and anywhere with confidence.
I selected Inter as the primary typeface for its modern, functional design and excellent readability across screen sizes. Inter’s open letterforms and balanced spacing make it ideal for content-rich interfaces, supporting clarity in areas like statistics, messaging, and profile details. Its versatility allows the platform to maintain a clean and professional tone while remaining approachable for both student-athletes and coaches navigating detailed information.
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The color palette combines red, black, and white to create a bold, confident, and energetic visual identity. Red brings energy and urgency, reflecting the drive and ambition of student-athletes. Black adds strength and professionalism, while white provides clarity and space for content to stand out. Together, these colors support a focused and dynamic experience that motivates users and reinforces the platform’s commitment to performance and opportunity.
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Black
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