Solving career discovery for Gen Z: From uncertainty to clarity.

Finding purpose beyond a degree.

In a job market increasingly uncertain, Gen Z students are arriving at college with narrow targets, majors, roles, paths, but without clarity on who they are and what truly drives them. Enter H22: we partnered to redefine career discovery, guiding sophomores and juniors from uncertainty to self-understanding. Through a sprint combining branding, UX design, and prototype development, we helped H22 build a digital experience that supports students in uncovering their strengths, aligning their learning, and exploring where they could unexpectedly go next.

The AI mentor guiding Gen Z through discovery and career exploration.

At the heart of our prototype is Helix, a digital mentor designed to guide students from self-discovery to real decisions. Instead of asking “What do you want to be?” Helix asks “Who are you?”—identifying values, strengths and interests, then matching them to courses, skills and career paths. We crafted Helix’s voice to be curious, encouraging and future-focused, making sure it feels like a partner rather than a prescriptive tool.

Creating Helix meant blending brand, voice and UX into one seamless experience. We charted key moments like a five-minute psychometric quiz, a “digital blueprint” summary and dynamic paths through learning and careers. Helix appears throughout the app—saying things like “I’ve heard that project work can look great” or asking “What class should I take first that aligns with you?” As students engage, Helix adapts and becomes more personalized. The result is not just a prototype but a true companion for the career-journey of Gen Z.