Siddharth Hardikar

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Enabling career growth for India's blue-collar workforce through skill-building and experience.

ORGANIZATION

Self-initiated Project

ROLE

UX, UI & Strategy
Design System

TIMELINE

2-Week Sprint
(2022)

TOOLS

Figma, Adobe Illustrator,
Adobe After Effects

CONTEXT

In a country where dreams are plentiful but ladders are few, millions of workers face an invisible ceiling.

In India, over 90% of 450 million workers remain in informal or blue-collar jobs, blocked by skill gaps and limited access to opportunity. Government programs exist, but few connect skill-building to real employment.

PROBLEM

Many working young men & women fear losing their existing jobs and being unable to fulfill their basic necessities. This creates a lack of confidence in their capabilities, which stops them from doing better.

Blue-collar workers in India also face systematic barriers to career advancement despite aspirations for better economic prospects. These barriers include:

Lack of access to affordable skill development programs and job placement support.

Existing work commitments that prevent traditional education paths.

Lack of access to affordable skill development programs and job placement support.

"I've been working as a factory worker for 8 years. I wish to do more, but where to start? Training programs are too expensive, and I can't afford to quit my job to study."

Factory Worker, Pune

"I completed basic computer courses at a local center, but no company will hire me without experience. I need skills for jobs, but can't get jobs without experience."

Construction worker, Mumbai

SOLUTION OVERVIEW

Saksham is a mobile platform that creates accessible pathways for blue-collar workers to transition into entry-level white-collar roles.

It offers daily learning in regional languages, certification, and weekend work opportunities, all built to fit around existing jobs. With guided steps and hands-on experience, Saksham enables low-risk career growth for workers often left out of traditional upskilling.

Key Highlights of The App

View the entire solution & interact with the prototype at the end!

Kept static to showcase features

A simple dashboard that suggests what to learn today, based on the your goals. Designed for people with limited time.

Each course ends with a skill test that gives users a certificate and unlocks related weekend work opportunities.

Users can sign up for weekend work experiences to try real jobs without leaving their current ones.

The app supports multiple Indian languages. This screen shows the home-screen interface in Hindi.

The visual & experiential consistency

IMPACT

Creating pathways where barriers once stood!

30%

potential income increase for successful users, with upto 80% job placement for those completing all program components

~20%

of informal workers projected to transition into formal employment within 5 years, improving economic mobility and reducing inequality

Unlock

a new talent pipeline for employers by connecting them with motivated candidates who have verified skills and relevant experience

Enable

flexible skill-building for workers through a pathway that fits existing schedules, reducing financial risk and expanding career opportunities

Process + Complete Solution ↓

SECONDARY RESEARCH

Understanding the challenges and progress of blue-Collar workers in India’s workforce.

Following were the salient insights emerging from it.

Formal Sector Employment

1

Only ~10% of India's workforce was in this sector (2018) [1]

Skill

Gaps

Skill Gaps

2

70% of employers reported difficulty finding workers with right skills [2]

Language

Barriers

Language Barriers

3

Only ~10% of Indians were comfortable with English as primary language for learning [3]

MARKET GAP ANALYSIS

I researched about the existing services in the market to identify gaps and opportunities for the solution.

While there are skill development initiatives (e.g., Skill India), they often lack comprehensive post training support.

Below were the key gaps identified:

🕒

Inflexible Scheduling

Few part-time options that fit around existing work commitments

🧭

Transition Support Missing

Minimal guidance during the critical phase between training and employment

🧩

No End-to-End Solutions

Rarely combine education, experience, certification, and placement in one flow

💸

High Upfront Costs

Most programs require significant financial investment with no guaranteed outcomes

🗣️

Language Barriers

Limited offerings in regional languages restrict access for many workers

USER RESEARCH AND SYNTHESIS

I conducted in-depth interviews with 5 blue-collar workers and triangulated findings with secondary research to extract key insights and high-level user needs.

Below are the high level findings that informed the design solution

Limited time for upskilling due to demanding work schedules

3/5 Participants reported working 10+ hour days with minimal days off, making traditional education models impossible to accommodate.

"I leave home at 6am and return at 8pm. Which training center is open at that time? And I can't afford to lose even one day's wages." - P3

Financial constraints prevent investment in education

Blue-collar workers cannot risk existing income for uncertain future benefits, creating a barrier to career advancement.

"They ask for ₹20,000 upfront for a 3-month course. That's more than my monthly salary!" - P1

Language barriers limit access to quality training

Most educational content is available only in English, which creates an insurmountable barrier for regional language speakers.

"The videos are in English with technical terms I don't understand. I might understand better if they were explained in Hindi." - P2

Lack of guidance, mentorship, and awareness

Workers lack access to professionals who could provide career guidance and help navigate transition pathways. They are also unaware of roles to transition to due to a perceived gap in qualifications.

"I don't know anyone who works in an office. And I don't know what roles I can get into with my level of knowledge or what knowledge I need to get a good job." - P1

DESIGN CHALLENGE

How might we help blue-collar workers grow their skills, get guidance, and find better jobs — in a way that respects their time, income, and language?

USER PERSONAS

These two personas represented the distinct user needs within the blue-collar workforce.

Since personas can unintentionally introduce bias, these were deliberately crafted based on observed behaviors, goals, and barriers - not assumptions or demographics.

Ravi

1

Career-seeking gig worker juggling uncertainty

CURRENT ROLE

Delivery executive (gig-based work)

GOALS

Transition to a more stable, higher-paying role
Learn skills without leaving current job

Transition to a more stable, higher-paying role
Learn skills without leaving current job

BARRIERS

Long irregular work hours
Limited access to affordable, language-friendly training

Long irregular work hours
Limited access to affordable, language-friendly training

NEEDS

Flexible, self-paced learning
Career guidance from trusted sources
Clear path from skill building to job placement

Flexible, self-paced learning
Career guidance from trusted sources
Clear path from skill building to job placement

Sunita

2

Overburdened caretaker seeking growth

CURRENT ROLE

Domestic worker (multiple part-time jobs)

GOALS

Increase income through new skills
Support family and secure consistent employment

Increase income through new skills
Support family and secure consistent employment

BARRIERS

Limited free time
Low digital and English literacy
Hesitancy to trust training programs

Limited free time
Low digital and English literacy
Hesitancy to trust training programs

NEEDS

Visual learning in a familiar language
Affordable or low-risk training options
Local or peer-based support to build trust

Visual learning in a familiar language
Affordable or low-risk training options
Local or peer-based support to build trust

IDEATION

A brainstorming session was carried out to determine the features that would address the user's needs.

Here were the most important, possible solutions mapped against the problems to be solved.

Language limitations: unable to understand content in English

Lack of guidance, mentorship, awareness about roles & possibilities

Lack of skills unsure of what to learn, what's in demand

Basic level professional communication courses recommended after an onboarding assessment based on the results

Missing relevant experience and lack of self-trust to transition

Time & income constraints, unable to leave existing jobs

Collecting language preferences and tailoring app content to fit their needs

Collecting data about their existing skillsets (preliminary assessment) to help filter their recommendations

Modules teaching the most sought after skillsets in industry related to their interests

Bite-sized, focused learning modules only focusing on making them ready for hands-on training

Subscription at ₹99/month, with additional revenue from course creators and employer commissions.

POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS

PROBLEMS

Community creation for mentor outreach

Skill bounties - weekly wanted skills lists by hiring companies

In-app resume that updates on acquiring new skills

Weekend experience immersions with prerequisite skills

Confidence building, daily fun quizzes

WIREFRAMING AND FLOWS

Based on the above ideation, I put together a user flow and a set of low-fi wireframes that captured the goals for each key section of the app.

Below is how the key parts of the app were wireframed. I separated the flows, and set aside goals for each flow to ensure the wireframes addressed/met those.

Drag around to view a glimpse of the wireframing of the key parts of the app

BRANDING AND VISUAL LANGUAGE

The word "Saksham" means capable. Just the right name for a brand that throws light on necessary skillsets and helps individuals unleash their true potential.

What makes you think of education, what are some of the most memorable things that you link to it?

"I remember our school days with chalkboards and handwriting in ruled books."

"…That black chalkboard, pencils, pens, dusters - even those chalk plates we had."

"…School bell, chalkboard, and the long stick teacher used for teaching."

Basics of

typing

Basics of

typing

Basics of

typing

Greeting Customers

“Hey what do you want?”

“Can I help you with something?”

“Hello, welcome. How can I assist you today?”

USER TESTING

Due to time constraints, I conducted a quick usability test with 3 of the 5 interview participants, focusing on one key task flow.

The Task

You're interested in learning a new skill to improve your communication abilities.

Show me how you would begin learning a course that helps with this.
After completing the course, what would you do next to start applying that skill in a real-world setting?

You're interested in learning a new skill to improve your communication abilities.

Show me how you would begin learning a course that helps with this.
After completing the course, what would you do next to start applying that skill in a real-world setting?

Methodology

I chose a moderated think-aloud test focused on one key task flow to get direct, real-time feedback on the most critical part of the experience. This lightweight approach allowed me to observe user behavior, identify friction points, and gather actionable insights within tight time and resource constraints.

Results

FINAL APP

Here's how it all came together!

Addressing The Language Barriers in Learning

Language selection options offered at the onboarding for the users.

These languages are decided based on the top spoken languages in India in the order visible on the screen.

Language selection options offered at the onboarding for the users.

These languages are decided based on the top spoken languages in India in the order visible on the screen.

Designing for Guided, Low-Effort Exploration

The home screen helps users get started quickly, even if they’re unsure what to learn.

Based on research insights about limited time and lack of direction, it offers a recommended skill for the day, short 10-minute lessons, and a "Skills Companies Want" section to ensure relevance. Peer stories build confidence through relatable success paths, while suggested search terms reduce effort and decision fatigue.

The home screen helps users get started quickly, even if they’re unsure what to learn.

Supporting Quick,

Guided Learning

Supporting Quick,

Guided Learning

The Learn flow addresses a key research insight: users hesitate to invest time in upskilling if it disrupts their main income. To reduce this barrier, Saksham offers 10-minute daily lessons that feel manageable.

Each course also shows a related weekend experience it unlocks, making the value of learning clear and immediate.

Assessment Flow, Leading to Certification

The assessment consists of 8 relevant questions to test users on what they’ve learned. Once they pass, the skill is added to their in-app resume as a certified achievement.

The certification screen also introduces related weekend experiences unlocked by the skill, allowing users to register for hands-on opportunities to apply what they’ve learned in real-world settings.

The assessment consists of 8 relevant questions to test users on what they’ve learned. Once they pass, the skill is added to their in-app resume as a certified achievement.

Real-World Immersion Through Weekend Experiences

Research showed users lacked relevant experience for white-collar roles.

Weekend experiences lets them apply completed skills in real work settings, helping them gain practical exposure without leaving their current jobs.

Research showed users lacked relevant experience for white-collar roles.

Weekend experiences lets them apply completed skills in real work settings, helping them gain practical exposure without leaving their current jobs.

TRY IT YOURSELF!

Explore the prototype - For this purpose, only the English flow is active.

The App wasn't fully fleshed out due to time constraints. The onboarding assessment flow has also been left out for this purpose. You can try the same task which I gave to the other participants during the usability study!

NEXT STEPS

In future iterations, I aim to expand user testing to include a broader range of participants, refine edge cases across flows, and prototype the onboarding assessment to further personalise learning paths. I’d also explore deeper integration with local employers to strengthen the link between skill-building and job placement.

REFLECTION

Acknowledging limitations & what I would do differently.

As a short sprint project, I’m happy with the amount of work I was able to complete while maintaining a user-centered approach throughout the process.
One area I’d like to improve is thinking more deeply about happy paths and exit points. The current flows are quite optimistic and don’t account for how users might approach tasks differently. As designers, we need to ensure we design meaningful exit points and not just focus on ideal scenarios.
This project also highlighted the importance of reaching more users during testing. A larger and more diverse participant pool in future rounds would provide more reliable and varied insights for iteration.