CASE STUDY

Identity Verification for the Hiring Process

Designing a mobile-first identity verification flow to streamline hiring workflows while maintaining compliance and minimizing friction.

About the Product

Sterling Identity Verification is a mobile-first pre-verification experience designed to securely confirm candidate-provided identity information as the first step in the background check hiring process. The app enables candidates to verify their identity using government-issued documents and their mobile device, prior to deeper background screening. The product was developed by Sterling Identity.

About the Product

About the Product

The Goal

Demonstrate how background check candidates could complete identity verification confidently, securely, and with minimal friction through a working, shareable demo for business stakeholders.

My Role

Lead UX Designer responsible for end-to-end experience design, prototyping, validation, and collaboration with engineering to deliver a working mobile verification demo under a compressed timeline.

Key Insights

Trust and clarity matter more than speed when asking users to share sensitive identity documents.

For many candidates, identity verification is unfamiliar, stressful, and high-stakes. The UX challenge was not only technical accuracy, but creating a calm, accessible experience that clearly explained what was happening, what was required, and what would happen next.

Impact

Delivered a polished, working mobile identity verification demo on a tight timeline
Validated the experience with users unfamiliar with Sterling Identity and background checks
Identified and resolved major friction points, including desktop-to-mobile handoff and document capture guidance
Established a foundation for future production-ready identity verification workflows

My Challenge

Design a simple, accessible mobile experience for identity verification built on an existing backend system, while accounting for device constraints, user anxiety, and the need for a sharable demo.

Users

Job candidates completing identity verification as part of the hiring process.

Scope and Constraints

Existing third-party backend verification process
Mobile-first experience required
Clear redirection needed for users opening verification links on desktop
Compressed timeline driven by demo and sales needs
High trust and accessibility requirements

My Process

Partnered with engineering to understand the existing backend verification flow
Whiteboarded workflows with the lead developer and translated them into a visual prototype using Adobe XD
Conducted rapid in-office validation to identify major usability issues
Ran broader usability testing through UserTesting with participants unfamiliar with Sterling Identity or background checks
Synthesized findings and prioritized fixes, focusing on mobile redirection and document capture clarity
Designed refined graphics and guidance for image capture and next steps
Supported development of a working demo app, including creation of mock identity documents for testing and presentation