Westpac Banking Corporation
Project Overview
Westpac Banking Corporation. Human Resources Platform.
Westpac Banking Corporation (Westpac), is an Australian bank and financial-services provider headquartered in Westpac Place, Sydney. It is one of Australia's "big four" banks.
As of 2024 Westpac has 13 million customers worldwide, and employs around 35,000 people.
Westpac Bank is also one of the largest banks in Australasia. It was expanding rapidly into Asian and Pacific markets which required an employment of new staff.
There was a demand for a new Human Resources Platform.
Methodology: Agile (Kanban)
My Role
I led User Interface and User Experience Design efforts of Australasian Westpac Human Resources Portal, working within a team located in Perth and Sydney.
I've created a number of user journeys, flow charts, wireframes for various key sections of the application, progressing them into fully completed mockups and supporting visuals for the new portal.
Skills:
UX Research, UX/UI Design, Human-Centered Design, Data-Driven Design, Prototyping & Usability Testing, Agile Delivery, Stakeholder Collaboration
Value for the client
EMPATHIZE
Understand The Challenge
Westpac needed to address a gap in their internal recruitment process. As the organization expanded rapidly across Asia-Pacific, the need for a streamlined HR portal became crucial.
The challenge was to create an interactive, visually consistent, and scalable platform that would allow employees to easily find job opportunities, apply for roles, and track their application status within a unified, centralized system.
Key Problems to Solve:
1.Create a user-friendly platform that works across multiple regions.
2.Integrate the platform seamlessly into the existing Westpac intranet.
3.Ensure it allows job applicants to apply, track applications, and communicate with HR.
DEFINE
Define Solutions
Objective:
To design a unified, user-friendly, and scalable Human Resources platform that integrates seamlessly with Westpac’s existing intranet and facilitates internal job discovery, application, and communication, and reporting.
IDEATE
Explore Options
User Research & Insights:
Internal Staff: I conducted usability studies with Westpac across various departments to understand their needs, frustrations, and expectations for the HR.
HR Staff: Analyzed pain points with current internal recruitment processes and identified key requirements for a scalable system.
Competitive Analysis:
I reviewed other HR portals and employee-facing job boards to identify best practices and determine gaps that we could improve on.
PROTOTYPE
Consolidate Exploration
UI Design & Visual Consistency:
Designed the final UI elements, ensuring visual alignment with Westpac’s brand guidelines. Created a responsive design to ensure seamless usability across desktop and mobile devices.
Key Features:
Interactive job map: Employees can visually browse roles based on region, with detailed descriptions upon selection.
Seamless application process: Simplified the application form, CV upload, and tracking communication.
As part of the UI design phase for the Westpac HR Portal, my primary goal was to create a visual language that would seamlessly integrate with the bank’s existing intranet and digital ecosystem.
To achieve this, I began by conducting a detailed audit of Westpac’s branding guidelines—focusing on typography, color palette, iconography, layout structure, and overall tone of voice. This ensured that every design decision aligned with the bank’s established visual identity and conveyed a sense of trust, professionalism, and clarity.
Using these guidelines as a foundation, I crafted a consistent design system that maintained visual harmony across multiple screens and components. I paid close attention to typographic hierarchy, spacing, and contrast to ensure legibility and accessibility for all users. Buttons, cards, maps, and data fields were styled in line with Westpac’s visual standards, while also introducing subtle enhancements to improve usability.
Beyond aesthetics, my approach emphasized functionality and user comfort. The interface elements were designed to be intuitive and familiar to internal staff, allowing them to navigate job postings and applicant tracking effortlessly. Every element—down to icon hover states and feedback indicators—was tested for clarity and consistency.
The final UI not only reflected Westpac’s brand essence but also elevated the overall user experience by making the portal feel like a natural extension of their digital workplace.
IMPLEMENT
The Outcome & Impact
Efficiency Gains: The portal significantly reduced the time employees spent navigating between systems to apply for roles, improving overall HR efficiency.
User Adoption: Employee engagement with job opportunities increased, leading to faster internal hires and better retention.
Executive Approval: The wireframes and final designs were approved without major revisions, and the HR portal was launched on schedule.
Seamless Integration: The HR portal seamlessly integrated into the existing intranet, preserving Westpac's design integrity while modernizing the user experience.
