Improving Barcelona's work-search permit journey for international students
ROLE
UI/UX designer (solo project)
duration
2 weeks
YEAR
2026
Before & after
Unofficial concept not affiliated with the Barcelona municipality
Before & After
Unofficial concept not affiliated with the Barcelona municipality
Every year, graduating international students in Barcelona want to stay and work. Curious and motivated, they open the municipality’s official page to understand the work-search permit process, and leave more confused than when they started.
This began with my own experience of the process. Over a two-week sprint, I: Ran a discovery interview to understand how applicants really find their way through the process, moderated a usability session on the redesigned flow, and contributed to the flow and prototype
Context
I used the Double Diamond as the structure, starting by diagnosing the problem before designing anything.
Graduate to submit:
a loop of searching, asking and re-checking
USER JOURNEY
Research
Three people, one shared struggle: Piecing the process together from too many sources
USER PERSONA
I interviewed 8 international graduates who had recently applied for Barcelona’s work-search permit
and it became these 3 insights
Three themes shaped the direction:
Students aren’t paying for information, they’re paying for certainty
A lawyer gives personalised guidance, which means reassurance and facts. Students want to hear “this is right for your case,” and a general page can’t say that
Without a clear information hierarchy, students miss steps
Everything on the page carries the same weight, important information looks like everything else. Students scan, and they skip what isn’t signposted
Uncertainty grows when the next step is unclear
Unavailable appointments, unclear costs and terminology, ambiguous next steps make them seek help outside the digital journey
During ideation, I combined ideas and reviews equivalent processes in Sweden, Norway, and Singapore to see how governments present the same information around one key focus:
How might we surface and explain the information graduating students need at each step, so they feel confident applying on their own?
Impact
4.25/5
improved experience
around +90% increase from 2.2 after redesigning the website journey
+80%
increased in confidence
in navigating the application steps. Many international students could usually pay up to €1,100 for legal support
Impact
4.25/5
Improved experience
around +90% increase from 2.2 after redesigning the website journey
Impact
+80%
increased in confidence
in navigating the application steps. Many international students could usually pay up to €1,100 for legal support
4.25/5
Improved experience
around +90% increase from 2.2 after redesigning the website journey
+80%
increased in confidence
in navigating the application steps. Many international students could usually pay up to €1,100 for legal support
Context
Every year, graduating international students in Barcelona want to stay and work. Opening the municipality’s official page to understand the work-search permit process, and leave confused.
This began with my own experience of the process. Over a two-week sprint, I: Ran a discovery interview to understand how applicants really find their way through the process, moderated a usability session on the redesigned flow, and contributed to the flow and prototype
I used the Double Diamond as the structure, starting by diagnosing the problem before designing anything.
Graduate to submit:
a loop of searching, asking and re-checking
USER JOURNEY
Research
Three people, one shared struggle: Piecing the process together from too many sources
USER persona
I interviewed 8 international graduates who had recently applied for Barcelona’s work-search permit
Three themes shaped the direction:
During ideation, I combined ideas and reviews equivalent processes in Sweden, Norway, and Singapore to see how governments present the same information around one key focus:
Students aren’t paying for information, they’re paying for certainty
A lawyer gives personalised guidance, which means reassurance and facts. Students want to hear “this is right for your case,” and a general page can’t say that
Without a clear information hierarchy,
students miss steps
Everything on the page carries the same weight, important information looks like everything else. Students scan, and they skip what isn’t signposted
Uncertainty grows when
the next step is unclear
Unavailable appointments, unclear costs and terminology, ambiguous next steps make them seek help outside the digital journey
User test
Round 1
How should a student move through the information?
Research showed the problem wasn’t missing content but how it was organised. Before spending time on visuals, I sketched four layouts to test two questions: does showing the order of steps help students know what comes next, and does revealing detail on demand keep the page from overwhelming them? I tested these with 8 participants.
How testing supported my assumption and changed the design
Using a step-by-step sequence matched how students expected the process to work, and progressive disclosure made it easier to scan. It also showed they needed more than structure: a checklist, embedded links, and ways to get help.
Round 2
Can students navigate the process independently and confidently?
1
Following a clear path
Testing showed that users repeatedly looped through the original page because the next step was unclear. The redesign restructured content around the applicant journey: before applying, document preparation, registration, processing, and results.
1
Following a clear path
Testing showed that users repeatedly looped through the original page because the next step was unclear. The redesign restructured content around the applicant journey: before applying, document preparation, registration, processing, and results.
How might we surface and explain the information graduating students need at each step, so they feel confident applying on their own?
User test
How should a student move through the information?
Research showed the problem wasn’t missing content but how it was organised. Before spending time on visuals, I sketched four layouts to test two questions: does showing the order of steps help students know what comes next, and does revealing detail on demand keep the page from overwhelming them? I tested these with 8 participants.
Round 1
How testing supported my assumption and changed the design
Using a step-by-step sequence matched how students expected the process to work, and progressive disclosure made it easier to scan. It also showed they needed more than structure: a checklist, embedded links, and ways to get help.
Can students navigate the process independently and confidently?
1
Following a clear path
Testing showed that users repeatedly looped through the original page because the next step was unclear. The redesign restructured content around the applicant journey: before applying, document preparation, registration, processing, and results.
1
Following a clear path
Testing showed that users repeatedly looped through the original page because the next step was unclear. The redesign restructured content around the applicant journey: before applying, document preparation, registration, processing, and results.
Progressive disclosure
During the usability tests I moderated, users tended to skim the page, return to reread it, and still feel unsure.
To fix this, I used progressive disclosure to reveal information only at the stage of the journey where it was needed. This reduced cognitive load, stopped users from overlooking key requirements, and helped them keep track of which step of the application they were on
2
Round 2
Context
Every year, graduating international students in Barcelona want to stay and work. Curious and motivated, they open the municipality’s official page to understand the work-search permit process, and leave more confused than when they started.
This began with my own experience of the process. Over a two-week sprint, I: Ran a discovery interview to understand how applicants really find their way through the process, moderated a usability session on the redesigned flow, and contributed to the flow and prototype
I used the Double Diamond as the structure, starting by diagnosing the problem before designing anything.
before
onboarding email series 1
Hello, and then?
A warm introduction from the CEO that celebrated joining the platform, but didn't help investors understand what to do next
after
Welcome to the platform
Addressing the biggest uncertainty, which wasn't "Who is ADDX?" but"How do I make my first investment?", the redesign showcases more product introduction, guided onboarding, and a clear CTA
Checklist to replace fragmented research
In user interviews, applicants told me they relied on multiple websites to manually piece together their document requirements. I created a checklist that became a single source of truth, so they could prepare with clarity before their appointment.
3
Research
Graduate to submit:
a loop of searching, asking and re-checking
USER JOURNEY
USER PERSONA
Three people, one shared struggle: Piecing the process together from too many sources
I interviewed 8 international graduates who had recently applied for Barcelona’s work-search permit
Three themes shaped the direction:
Students aren’t paying for information, they’re paying for certainty
A lawyer gives personalised guidance, which means reassurance and facts. Students want to hear “this is right for your case,” and a general page can’t say that
Without a clear information hierarchy, students miss steps
Everything on the page carries the same weight, important information looks like everything else. Students scan, and they skip what isn’t signposted
Uncertainty grows when the next step is unclear
Unavailable appointments, unclear costs and terminology, ambiguous next steps make them seek help outside the digital journey
During ideation, I combined ideas and reviews equivalent processes in Sweden, Norway, and Singapore to see how governments present the same information around one key focus:
How might we surface and explain the information graduating students need at each step, so they feel confident applying on their own?
User test
Round 1
How should a student move through the information?
Research showed the problem wasn’t missing content but how it was organised. Before spending time on visuals, I sketched four layouts to test two questions: does showing the order of steps help students know what comes next, and does revealing detail on demand keep the page from overwhelming them? I tested these with 8 participants.
How testing supported my assumption and changed the design
Using a step-by-step sequence matched how students expected the process to work, and progressive disclosure made it easier to scan. It also showed they needed more than structure: a checklist, embedded links, and ways to get help.
Round 2
Can students navigate the process independently and confidently?
1
Following a clear path
Testing showed that users repeatedly looped through the original page because the next step was unclear. The redesign restructured content around the applicant journey: before applying, document preparation, registration, processing, and results.
2
Progressive disclosure
During the usability tests I moderated, users tended to skim the page, return to reread it, and still feel unsure. To fix this, I used progressive disclosure to reveal information only at the stage of the journey where it was needed. This reduced cognitive load, stopped users from overlooking key requirements, and helped them keep track of which step of the application they were on
3
Checklist to replace fragmented research
In user interviews, applicants told me they relied on multiple websites to manually piece together their document requirements. I created a checklist that became a single source of truth, so they could prepare with clarity before their appointment.
4
Making journey clearer with visual cues
Users often felt hesitant and anxious when they had to switch to a different government website, because they had to learn how to navigate it all over again. I added clear visual cues that showed applicants exactly where to go, prioritizing contextual support over written descriptions
Overview
From fragmented information to a guided journey
From fragmented information to a guided journey
Overview
The complexity of immigration requirements, unfamiliar terminology, and fragmented government information created uncertainty for international graduates trying to stay in Barcelona. The impact?
The complexity of immigration requirements, unfamiliar terminology, and fragmented government information created uncertainty for international graduates trying to stay in Barcelona. The impact?
+80% increase in applicants confidence in completing the process independently
User experience goes from 2.2/5 to 4.5/5 after redesigning the application journey
5 → 1; Consolidated multiple government sources into one actionable checklist
+80% increase in applicants confidence in completing the process independently
User experience goes from 2.2/5 to 4.5/5 after redesigning the application journey
5 → 1; Consolidated multiple government sources into one actionable checklist
"Actually, they're not asking for a lot. I thought there's more docs I need to prepare, but it's pretty straightforward and seems easy to do"
"Actually, they're not asking for a lot. I thought there's more docs I need to prepare, but it's pretty straightforward and seems easy to do"
Dennise
Dennise
International Student in Elisava's Master, after going through the redesign
International Student in Elisava's Master, after going through the redesign
The tradeoff
The tradeoff
Testing gap
Testing gap
Next, I’d test the redesign with first-time applicants to see whether they can complete the full flow without my guidance, and a bigger age range
Next, I’d test the redesign with first-time applicants to see whether they can complete the full flow without my guidance, and a bigger age range
Q&A / live chat
Q&A / live chat
Most participants asked for this feature. I chose not to include one because it needs constant upkeep. If first-time applicants still get stuck, a lightweight FAQ would be my next step before considering live chat.
Most participants asked for this feature. I chose not to include one because it needs constant upkeep. If first-time applicants still get stuck, a lightweight FAQ would be my next step before considering live chat.
From my own experience, brought outwards
This project reminded me that behind every administrative journey is a person trying to move forward in life. Designing clearer systems is not only about reducing friction - it is about creating experiences that respect people's time, uncertainty, and emotional investment.
Reflection
Little illustration i made during my visa application journey
Reflection
From my own experience, brought outwards
This project reminded me that behind every administrative journey is a person trying to move forward in life. Designing clearer systems is not only about reducing friction - it is about creating experiences that respect people's time, uncertainty, and emotional investment.
ROLE
UI/UX designer (solo project)
duration
2 weeks
YEAR
2026
Improving Barcelona's work-search permit journey for international students
Before & after
Unofficial concept not affiliated with the Barcelona municipality
Little illustration i made during my visa application journey
Reflection
From my own experience, brought outwards
This project reminded me that behind every administrative journey is a person trying to move forward in life. Designing clearer systems is not only about reducing friction - it is about creating experiences that respect people's time, uncertainty, and emotional investment.
Little illustration i made during my visa application journey
Making journey clearer with visual cues
Users often felt hesitant and anxious when they had to switch to a different government website, because they had to learn how to navigate it all over again. I added clear visual cues that showed applicants exactly where to go, prioritizing contextual support over written descriptions
4