See Me
"Design an experiential CV."
TIMELINE
6 WEEKS
YEAR
MAY & JUN 2026
PARTNER
ACCENTURE SONG
CV is an abbreviation for "curriculum vitae", a Latin phrase that translates literally to "course of life". Over six weeks, our team found out that both applicants and recruiters feel and need more human, creative, and experiential ways of representation.
Through testing, research, and a participatory workshop, we developed a framework and an exhibit showcasing three CVs as the outcome.
This is a collaborative project at UAL with Accenture Song. Our aim is to design and demonstrate the use of a non-text based CV that captures lived-experience, is sensory and immersive, and is compatible with existing application processes.
We conducted secondary research and literature reviews to develop knowledge about the brief and understand data around CVs and related topics like recruitment.
Literature Review
List of literature and why they were picked.
Notes and key themes that were extracted. (Video controls are available)
Current situation and market
AI is changing work and designers are in the "moderate exposure" zone. 79% of companies have automated at least some of their hiring process. Candidates using the same LLM as the evaluator LLM are 23% to 60% more likely to be shortlisted than if they submit human-written resumes (Pham et al., 2026).
AI is changing work, and designers in London sit right in the moderate exposure zone (data from 2022-2024).
Ways candidates have "hacked" the hiring system.
Instead of simplifying job roles, AI integration encourages employers to bundle previously distinct responsibilities into single roles. As depicted, this job description combines multiple design roles.
The ideal candidate is described with non-human terms like unicorn and purple squirrel, almost impossible to find.
We conducted qualitative research methods and tested other formats of showing the CV.
Being your CV at WPP
We wanted to test grabbing attention to our CV and ourselves. Some insights:
Most of the reactions I received were very supportive and optimistic.
People were interested to chat and they were actually taking the time to read my CV.
It felt very close to selling myself and handing out flyers, but I liked the experience of being rejected in-person as it felt more human.
People found applying for jobs and the whole situation quite relatable.
I was able to hand out 11 CVs, got an email from the CEO of Ogilvy, and a Linkedin response.
A compiled video showing our process and people we interacted with. (Video controls are available)
Busking
We headed to Kings Cross Station to use our music skills and busk our CVs. Unfortunately, we had to end rather early as a bad actor took Clara's CV and made inappropriate remarks.
Clara busking her CV with Waleed and I playing the accompaniment. The instruments sound louder than real-life in the video. (Video controls are available)
Another format for singing the CV quickly tested through improvising and singing it word for word. (Video controls are available)
Interviews
Interviews let us identify what applicants feel and need. Their responses told us that recruitment systems feel opaque, impersonal and draining and their CVs failed to capture their identity and personality.
We were able to interview 9 students from London College of Communication and London South Bank University on Tuesday, 12th May 2026 from 12:35pm.
Personal Inventory
This was conducted to understand what aspects of a person a CV is unable to capture. Objects, habits, stories and other things that represented the participants were analysed. (Credits: Clara, Oindrilla)
Creative Toolkit
We conducted a creative toolkit to see what qualities people would highlight and what forms that might take. (Credits: Veronika)
Top-level analysis of the produced artefacts. (Credits: Veronika, Images: Mary)
We had identified early on that grabbing attention is not possible for the majority of participants. This led us to try and make an adaptable framework, potentially through a workshop. Since this could be one of our final outcomes, we wanted to conduct it as professionally and high-fidelity as possible.
We refined the structure and timings for the activities by testing it in our group and this was our final flow. It included 4 major activities besides icebreakers. Total duration 1.5h.
A selection for refreshments was arranged for the participants.
We conducted it with 13 classmates due to convenience and to understand gaps.
Stationary and sheets were arranged beforehand for consent, warmup, reframing and group discussion.
Conducting the workshop
Alternative CVs
Artefacts produced in the workshop and analysis for a few of them:
We found a variety of formats and materials explored with clay, paper, string and some used their own CVs and self.
Participant used their metaphor (waves) and wrapped around their CV (right) to show their craft and decorativeness.
Participant with her crown CV representing playfulness, multitude of skills, and a complete person inside and outside work.
Framework
At this stage, we decided to explore Clara, Mary, and my CV as exhibitions due to convenience and unavailability of the workshop participants. We created moodboards for each and decided to stick to just 3 to be able to develop them all well.
Refined framework and how I had used it to define my metaphor.
"I am a fish because I’m unpredictable, refreshing, and full of fun surprises (I also love swimming)." (Author)
"I am a river. Because I get distracted flowing through different channels, wondering which way to go, experiencing volatility because I am easily influenced by my surroundings but always retain my natural and original flow." (Clara)
"Light coming through the branches. I can understand what needs to be seen and shine light on that although it might not want to be seen" (Mary)
Exhibit 1: River
Visuals generated through Claude as support for the exhibit.
Oindrilla and Clara layered images and texts for the composition.
Final CV that can be browsed by the audience.
Oindrilla and Clara arranging elements on translucent paper.
Visual representation of Clara's journey with pictures she took.
Author mapping projection of waves through MadMapper.
Description card designed by Revati, with Clara's script narrated by Waleed.
Image and audio after scanning. (Video controls are available)
Final scene with projection mapping.
Exhibit 2: Fish
Veronika assembling the seaweed and adding depth and texture.
Checking if the scene has enough contrast for the fish and is appropriately sized.
Addition of plastic jellyfish and orange seaweed.
Description card designed by Revati, with Author's script narrated by Waleed.
Image and audio after scanning. (Video controls are available)
Final scene with the addition of lights and bubbles, similar to a home aquarium.
Exhibit 3: Dappled Light
Frames arranged with Tarot cards.
Waleed adjusting projection and hand detection. (Video controls are available)
Chapters of Mary's life mapped.
Description card designed by Revati, with Author's script narrated by Waleed.
Image and audio after scanning. (Video controls are available)
Final scene with the addition of spotlight for tarot cards.
Exhibition viewed in class
Viewer reading Clara's CV in the exhibit.
Viewer observing the exhibit and listening to scanned audio.
Viewers watching and listening to Mary's CV through pointing.
Clara's exhibit. (Video controls are available)
Author's exhibit. (Video controls are available)
Mary's Exhibit. (Video controls are available)
Other assets
Revati created supporting assets to bring the exhibition together. She added a life-size image being shredding to highlight how people's CVs go unnoticed and how the process feels to them (quoted from prior interview). To make it feel like a museum exhibition, she worked on description cards with QRs and brochures.
Image of Mary with text from her CV being shredding and binned. The exhibition directions borrowed the style of UAL's exhibitions.
Exhibition brochures were handed out that had an overview of the project and exhibits (same content as description cards).
The brochures were enveloped with Mary, Clara, and my CV in yellow for contrast. We handed out the CVs at the same time this way.
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