EXPERIENCE   DESIGN CONCEPT
REMOTE COLLABORATION
WITH NEW FEATURE IN  SLACK

Infusing In-Person Experience into the Virtual Realm
–the storyline

Navigating the ever-evolving professional landscape, the rise of distributed and remote work has created a distinctive siloed atmosphere, reshaping our collaborative methods. While remote work has granted us personalized workspaces, it's also presented a puzzle of adapting to team dynamics, effective communication, and finding equilibrium in work-life integration. This project dives into the nuances of this transformative journey, exploring the intricate dance between individual comfort and collective collaboration.
View Process

SLACK WALL

PROCESS

Discovery

Definition

Ideation

Iterations

Decision

Design

Discovery

It started with recognizing the shift in remote work culture post pandemic.
I dove deep into the world of collaboration, exploring how people connect and work together. It was all about understanding the hiccups and hurdles we face in various domains. Think of it as a journey of opportunities for more seamless collaboration down the road.

Definition

Focusing on Workplace Dynamics
Zooming into the heart of workplace dynamics, my chats with folks shed light on the evolving nature of in-person to remote work, it sparked a fresh perspective on workplace collaboration. This phase is all about translating those real conversations into a clearer picture of the challenges and opportunities in our new collaborative world.
* There is communication gap between team members
* Feeling disconnected from co-workers
* Hard to make real connection in remote setting
User needs–from user interviews ➾
From our chats and deep dives into what folks really want, a common thread emerged: people are craving more than just work in their remote work lives. The buzzword? Team building. Turns out, the struggle is real when it comes to feeling close-knit in virtual spaces. It's not just about professional ties; there's a hunger for personal connections too. The bottom line? We're all in this to feel safer and more connected during our virtual water-cooler chats.

Floating Ideas

I wanted to figure out which parts of collaboration felt a bit, well, awkward or tricky with this whole new way of working.
V1: Your Smart Companion for Work-Life Balance

In response to the insight that maintaining work-life balance is challenging, I conceptualized TimeHarmony, a smart home product designed to visualize time, assist with task management, and facilitate a balanced daily schedule. Users can seamlessly plan their day, receive timely reminders, and even schedule short breaks to ensure a harmonious work-life balance.

Failed: The idea of designing a physical product for this challenge faced feasibility issues, primarily due to practical constraints.
V2: Bringing In-Person Vibes to Virtual Communication

Picture quick, straightforward talks with Direct Communication, smooth dialogues with Frequent Communication, and faster feedback through Improved Efficiency. It's like bringing the office water cooler chats to your screen, making virtual connections feel genuine and lively during work hours. Cool, right?

Failed:The concept struggled with balancing real-time communication and respecting personal boundaries in a virtual setting.

Iteration

Taking a step back and circling back to insights
You know, after going back to the drawing board and reflecting on what folks really need, I decided to ditch the fancy stuff. Instead, I honed in on the small changes that could make a big difference. It's all about those subtle tweaks that can really shake things up in a good way.

User Stories:
based on collaborative journey

We're better when we're unitedby Clay Banks

Onboarding Phase

Title: Cross-Cultural Safety,

As a team member,
‍I want to feel safe expressing opinions in a cross-cultural team,So that I can contribute effectively and foster open communication.

Gaining a deep understanding the problems that customers face is how you build products that provide value and grow. It all starts with a conversation. You have to let go of your assumptions so you can listen with an open mind and understand what’s actually important to them. That way you can build something that makes their life better. Something they actually want to buy.by Headway

Design Phase

Title: Clear Communication Tool
‍
‍As a project collaborator,
I want a tool for clear and visual communication,So that I can avoid misinterpretations and keep the project on track.

Creative teamby Icons8 Team

Team Discussions

Title: Personal Rapport

‍As a team member,
‍I want to establish good personal connections before communication, So that interactions are more meaningful and effective during team discussions.

Defining experience through words.

These words encapsulate the theme of "story," and in my understanding, this experience would be more appealing if it resembled a story. Storytelling has the power to forge connections and make the overall experience more relatable for people.

Making insights actionable

Foster Emotional Connections through Shared Experiences

Prioritize features and design elements that facilitate shared experiences, creating emotional bonds among team members and enhancing collaboration

Cultivate Inclusivity for Diverse Voices

Design a collaborative environment that promotes inclusivity, ensuring every team member feels safe and encouraged to express their unique perspectives and opinions.

Optimize Communication through Slack Integration

Leverage the widespread use of "Slack" as the primary communication platform and focus on integrating new features to enhance and streamline collaborative interactions.

Design for Emotional Engagement

To enhance collaboration, focus on design elements that bridge the emotional gap between in-person and remote interactions, fostering a fluid and engaging user experience.

Decision

Enhancing Team Bonding through External Experience Sharing on SLACKInfuse a sense of emotional connection within the team by integrating a feature on SLACK that facilitates sharing outside work experiences.

DESIGN   EXPLORATIONS

View Final Design

Comic Strip layout

Transforming shared experiences into engaging narratives, this layout unites similar encounters into a delightful comic strip, adding a touch of fun and fostering camaraderie through storytelling.

Photo Wall layout

Infusing a tangible touch into the digital, this concept mimics an office soft board adorned with polaroids, fostering a sense of connection through shared memories.

Focus De-focus Layout

Experience images like never before. Use the cursor to focus on a particular image, bringing it to the forefront in stunning detail.

Card Swipe layout

Infusing dynamism into shared experiences, this layout employs auto-play images that command equal attention. It not only provides a visual feast but also allows time for connection and reactions, turning the shared moments into a vivid and interactive storytelling experience.

Random Spotlight layout

Embrace the element of surprise! Experience the fun of storytelling with a randomized image that takes the spotlight at the center, adding a touch of excitement to your shared experiences.