The Challenge

Vena’s marketing site lacked clear representation of its company culture and hiring efforts. Careers were buried behind SEO-heavy product content, and internal values like DEI and inclusivity weren’t visible to potential applicants.

Internally, teams also struggled with a disjointed navigation system and a lack of clear brand storytelling. We needed a way to communicate what it felt like to work at Vena — without sacrificing the SEO performance of the main site.

The Hypothesis

If we introduced a dedicated culture site with a clear value proposition — focused on hiring, diversity, and Vena’s core values — we could increase direct job applications while reinforcing the brand’s human side.

Strategy & Approach‍

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Split the site experience:

We introduced two distinct experiences:

• A product-driven SEO site
• A new culture-forward destination called Life at Vena

Defined key content pillars:

• Showcase Vena’s inclusive, values-driven culture
• Promote open roles in a visible, interactive way
• Externalize Vena’s CORE values as a brand differentiator

Collaborated cross-functionally with:

• Executive leadership for early buy-in
• Ops for tracking & tagging requirements
• Product designers for structure, flow, and consistency

Key Design Decisions

Culture-first Careers Page

• Combined careers portal with internal storytelling
• Prioritized open roles using an interactive job ticker component
• Added visual cues, testimonials, and value messaging above the fold

Showcasing DEI & CORE Values

• Built out dedicated DEI sections to reflect real initiatives
• Surfaced CORE values (Vena’s guiding ethos) as a recruitment and brand alignment tool

Outcomes

• +20% increase in direct job applications through the Life at Vena site within the first few months
• Site became a shareable asset in both recruiting and client-facing conversations
• Executive and Ops teams praised clarity and storytelling; project went live within ~2 months from kickoff

Tools & Process

• CMS-based site design, built with modular components
• Figma wireframes & prototypes shared with stakeholders
• Weekly syncs with stakeholders and content leads to ensure messaging alignment
• Implemented tracking for job clicks and DEI section engagement

Key Learnings

1. Cross-functional collaboration drives clarity
Designing with input from hiring, content, product, and leadership created a well-rounded experience that resonated across the org.

2. Values-driven design builds trust
Making DEI and CORE values visible increased internal pride and gave candidates a clear cultural signal.

3. Great teams build fast when aligned
Our small-but-mighty team hit the ground running, building something with lasting impact in under 60 days.

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