Executive Summary

Certiff is a Dutch startup dedicated to making workers’ skills and certifications visible, verifiable and accessible across Europe. Its key product, the SkillsPass, enables individuals to present their qualifications instantly, digitally and physically, streamlining job applications, mobility and compliance. Backed by the Certificate Box, a secure public registry, Certiff is targeting challenges of certification recognition in both B2B and B2C contexts.

Goal

The project aimed to identify scalable opportunities for Certiff’s certification solutions and refine the user experience around its SkillsPass product. In the first phase, we explored which industries and migration corridors could benefit most from digital certification management. In the second phase, we shifted focus to improving the usability and relevance of the SkillsPass, particularly for workers in blue-collar jobs. Our overarching goal was to bring Certiff closer to its users while helping define strategic direction for future development.

Methodology

We applied the Design Thinking framework to structure our project. During the empathize phase, we conducted 11 interviews with stakeholders, including blue-collar workers, HR managers, and experts from industries such as healthcare, logistics and construction. These insights guided the definition of four distinct user personas and nine key user needs.

During ideation, we explored concepts that would empower jobseekers to better understand which qualifications are required where and how they could present them. We then developed and tested a prototype of an interactive map displaying country-specific certification and job requirements. Usability testing with workers on-site helped us refine the tool’s clarity and features.

Results

Our research confirmed a growing demand for simple, scalable solutions to track and present skills, both in sectors such as sustainability-focused manufacturing and digital tech. We delivered a working prototype for the SkillsPass that makes certification more tangible and job eligibility more transparent. The insights, user feedback and personas developed during this project give Certiff a roadmap for refining both its strategic focus and its product design.

By addressing real-world certification challenges with empathy and creativity, we helped Certiff progress toward its mission of empowering workers across borders with clarity and trust.

Cooperation Partner

• Certiff


• Visseringlaan 23, 2288 ER Rijswijk

• 
https://www.certiff.com

Contact Person

• Can Pekdemir
 - can@certiff.com

Student Team

• Noel Bernsteiner


• Dávid Juhos


• Chiara Lielacher


• David Mantler


• Kamil Swiatkiewicz

Project Manager

• Andrew Isaak


• Dorothee Horvath