Shifted the Student Summit experience from sponsor-first to student-first by designing and building an interactive career discovery hub within Cvent - expanding both user value and platform capability.
Role
Senior Digital Experience Designer — UX Strategy, Design & Development
Employer
TAPPI (The Technical Association of the Pulp & Paper Industry)
Platform
Cvent (Custom Code + AI-Assisted Development)
Skills
UX Strategy, Interaction Design, Platform Innovation, Cross-Functional Collaboration
Background
The TAPPI Student Summit attracts students pursuing careers in pulp, paper, and packaging—but the event website was largely transactional and sponsor-driven. While valuable for exhibitors, it offered little guidance to students trying to understand how their education connects to real-world careers or why the industry matters.
Opportunity:
Design a student-first resource that:
Helps students translate academic majors into career paths
Communicates the industry’s real-world impact and sustainability story
Expands the value of the event beyond sponsorship and networking
My Role
I identified the gap in student-facing content and proposed a new Student Resource Center as a strategic addition to the Summit site. I led the initiative end-to-end—owning concept development, UX strategy, content, design, and technical execution.
This project required:
Influencing stakeholders to shift from a sales-first mindset to a value-driven experience
Extending the technical limits of Cvent through custom and AI-assisted code
Designing interactive patterns that were intuitive, accessible, and scalable
Interactive career discovery tool that lets students select their major and explore real-world roles across industry sectors—bridging the gap between education and career paths.
Solution Overview
I designed and built a centralized Student Resource Center that provides guidance, interactivity, and career clarity—all within the constraints of the Cvent platform.
Key Features
Interactive Career Discovery Tool
“Choose Your Major” dropdown maps academic programs to real industry roles
Helps students quickly understand career pathways and industry applications
Myth-Busting Card Interactions
Flip-card UI challenges misconceptions about the paper industry
Highlights sustainability, innovation, and modern manufacturing
Career Readiness Resources
Direct links to interview prep, resume guides, and the interactive job board
Designed as a hub that connects discovery → preparation → opportunity
Each component was intentionally designed to reduce cognitive load, encourage exploration, and reinforce TAPPI’s role as a trusted career resource.
The Process
Research & Content Strategy
Analyzed gaps in the existing Summit experience from a student perspective
Researched common misconceptions and career questions from students
Wrote and structured content to be approachable, informative, and skimmable
UX Content Strategy & Writing
Defined content goals for each section (discover → understand → prepare → act) to support students at different stages of career exploration.
Wrote instructional and explanatory copy to guide users through interactive elements (dropdowns, card flips, resource links).
Structured dense information into scannable sections using headings, subheads, and progressive disclosure.
Ensured language was approachable, inclusive, and non-technical for a student audience unfamiliar with the industry.
Design & Interaction
Designed modular UI components to work within Cvent’s rigid framework
Prioritized clarity, accessibility, and mobile responsiveness
Used interaction patterns (dropdowns, card flips) to increase engagement without overwhelming users
Development & Platform Innovation
Custom-coded interactive elements inside Cvent to overcome platform limitations
Leveraged AI-assisted development to prototype and refine functionality efficiently
Established reusable patterns that can support future student-focused initiatives
Card flip interaction debunking industry myths and highlighting real impact.
Impact (Expected + Strategic Value)
Although the Student Resource Center is launching imminently, it already represents a significant strategic shift:
Student-first experience: Provides tangible career value beyond sponsorship
Deeper engagement: Encourages exploration rather than passive browsing
Expanded event value: Positions the Summit as a career development platform, not just a networking event
Internal precedent: Demonstrates that Cvent can support dynamic, interactive experiences through thoughtful design and custom code
Improved clarity and confidence for students navigating complex career information through structured content and guided interactions.
Early internal feedback has been highly positive, and the Resource Center is positioned to become a long-term foundation for student engagement across TAPPI platforms.