Even though all three exhibits had a very different format, they did far more justice at showing the person behind an application compared to a traditional CV. It was a deliberate choice to not use AI for narration, I felt that the audio narration by Waleed, a colleague, made it very personal and showcased collaboration and care.

Even after developing a metaphor-based framework that allowed applicants to communicate personhood more fully, the framework ultimately had to exist as a QR code, video, or file upload to a conventional application. The alternative therefore did not replace the recruitment system; it attached itself to it. Although it fulfilled the brief to represent personhood, the power remains with the institutions. Furthermore, our feedback emphasised making the outcome quick to evaluate, or compatible with AI, which prioritises legibility, efficiency, and comparability, qualities necessary for institutional decision-making but potentially at odds with richer forms of self-expression. Since our outcome prioritises human connection, it is constrained by whether the CV carrying it can pass through ATS, which itself illustrates the system's grip.