Target's Job Application System 5.0

If you go to a Target store today and sit in front of one of those kiosks they have for people to submit a job application, you will be interacting with JAS v 5.0. When I started working at Target their Job application System (JAS v4) was cumbersome, old-fashioned, confusing and was only available in kiosks. Candidates in search of a job which was not store-related, had to find their way through a completely different system online, hosted by a third party vendor. As senior art director I was given the task of leading the visual & creative design aspect of the project and ensuring the brand experience was consistency throughout. I worked very closely with the UX firm we brought in as experience design resource, and we collaborated for a year touching base frequently. Once they delivered the final wireframes I then designed the visual layer and lead the front-end implementation through launch.

As part of my responsibilities as design director I also lead an initiative to create a modular alphabet of symbols that could combine endlessly to illustrate any job position or job area, which offered the advantage of being more scalable, and cost effective than photography, and less prone to become outdated over time.

The modular icon set, which I commissioned from local illustrators Eight Hour Day, was devised to be a visual alphabet of endless combinations, so that any job area or description, past, present or future, could be represented in a visually intuitive manner.

The result earned us a 2008 AIGA design award (see image on the left.)

WHAT
Job Application System (kiosk & online)
(Design Lead. Oversaw 2 external agencies)

WHO
Target

WHEN
2007

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People at Target Said

Alfonso is one of the best designers I’ve ever met. He’s got a knack for creating something that looks great, and meets the business objectives.
Jason Grey CTO
Alfonso was a pleasure to work with, He has a keen eye for design and innovation as well as the ability to keep pushing the limits of his projects to make sure they exceed the expectations of his clients (which is a gift while under tight deadlines). I would highly recommend Alfonso.
Alex Garee Project Manager at Target
Alfonso’s design sensibility, creative energy and social finesse lend him to be an industry leader/innovator.
Alfonso’s design expertise is well seasoned and mature. Truly a keystone creative.
James Schneider Jr. Was Creative Director at Target
Smart designer, great attention to detail, great member of our team.
Aaron Kirscht Senior Copywriter at Target
Alfonso is an incredibly conscientious designer who not only created a great campaign but also checked in each day on the progress of the execution and any challenges that had arisen. He is a true partner!
Andrea Vogel Project Manager at Target
Alfonso is creative, smart & extremely talented. On numerous occasions he brought ideas to the table that no one had considered. He thinks beyond just what looks right, or what works right. He’s excellent at seeing the big picture.
Tim Pekarna Lead Product Owner at Target.com
Alfonso joined my team as a freelancer to help us in time crunch. His even, calm demeanor was perfect for the time crunched project and the creative work was top notch. He’s got a very fresh design sensibility, very international in flavor; and he’s a skilled animator. I’d gladly hire him again if I had the opportunity.
Lance Thornswood VP, Omnichannel & UX at US Bank
Alfonso is an amazingly talented and conscientious lead designer who has always brought a high degree of excellence and introspect towards his work. Alfonso's design leadership and attention to detail was a linchpin for the many successes we had with the Target corporate experience and its ability to elevate the brand overall.
Leo Padron Product Designer, Entrepeneur