CalmConnect
Team
2 Researchers
1 Interaction Designer
1 UI Designer (Me)
Tools
Figma
Challenge
The coronavirus pandemic ushered in a new era of remote work for millions on employed Americans. The development of new online tools that enable structure, communication, and efficiency for teleworkers has paved the way for the future of working from home.
However, this emphasis on productivity and constant online access has resulted in new challenges regarding separation of work and life. Without clear space distinctions, workers are now feeling new levels of pressure to work around the clock, making it more challenging to create boundaries that emphasize healthy living.
More specifically, workers experience high levels of burn out, limited personal lives, and general unhappiness. As our generation emerges into the work force, never having worked in the workplace, it is important to explore and understand the purpose of a distinct working environment to help mitigate work life balance.
Our team was challenged to design a solution which mitigates the challenges of over-working, mental health, and social interaction which may arise form a post-pandemic work environment.
The coronavirus pandemic ushered in a new era of remote work for millions on employed Americans. The development of new online tools that enable structure, communication, and efficiency for teleworkers has paved the way for the future of working from home.
However, this emphasis on productivity and constant online access has resulted in new challenges regarding separation of work and life. Without clear space distinctions, workers are now feeling new levels of pressure to work around the clock, making it more challenging to create boundaries that emphasize healthy living.
More specifically, workers experience high levels of burn out, limited personal lives, and general unhappiness. As our generation emerges into the work force, never having worked in the workplace, it is important to explore and understand the purpose of a distinct working environment to help mitigate work life balance.
Our team was challenged to design a solution which mitigates the challenges of over-working, mental health, and social interaction which may arise form a post-pandemic work environment.
Results
Our team created a data visualization tool for employees to complete mental health check-ins and improve support from team members. This data visualization also allows supervisors to oversee responses and understand the progress of their team.
Our team created a data visualization tool for employees to complete mental health check-ins and improve support from team members. This data visualization also allows supervisors to oversee responses and understand the progress of their team.
Goals
Informative
Create an interface that properly informs users and empower their mindfulness practice.
Efficient
Develop UI that presents clear content organization to reduce browsing time.
Tailored
Create a solution that includes content that users love and will regularly use.
Research
Our first step in tackling this challenge was understanding problems with post-pandemic work environments and how they affect work culture. We found that one of the biggest problems was lack of community between remote workers. While remote work provides flexibility, it takes away many people's "second space" and removes important interactions like "water cooler conversations" that establish community. These interactions are extremely important because feeling included and having a sense of community help prevent isolation, anxiety, and burnout.
Our first step in tackling this challenge was understanding problems with post-pandemic work environments and how they affect work culture. We found that one of the biggest problems was lack of community between remote workers. While remote work provides flexibility, it takes away many people's "second space" and removes important interactions like "water cooler conversations" that establish community. These interactions are extremely important because feeling included and having a sense of community help prevent isolation, anxiety, and burnout.
Our first step in tackling this challenge was understanding problems with post-pandemic work environments and how they affect work culture. We found that one of the biggest problems was lack of community between remote workers. While remote work provides flexibility, it takes away many people's "second space" and removes important interactions like "water cooler conversations" that establish community. These interactions are extremely important because feeling included and having a sense of community help prevent isolation, anxiety, and burnout.
Our most important research insights:
Lack of support is the leading contributor to burnout, stress, and anxiety in the remote workplace.
Loneliness and isolation can lead to increased stress and bad decision-making.
New college grads struggle to make friends and find community when joining hybrid teas, especially if the team has pre-COVID bonds.
Feeling included in the workplace can contribute to increased productivity.
Our most important research insights:
Lack of support is the leading contributor to burnout, stress, and anxiety in the remote workplace.
Loneliness and isolation can lead to increased stress and bad decision-making.
New college grads struggle to make friends and find community when joining hybrid teas, especially if the team has pre-COVID bonds.
Feeling included in the workplace can contribute to increased productivity.
Defining
Since our research focused on isolation and mental health, we narrowed down our problem space to tackling isolation and finding ways of helping co-workers connect in remote workplaces.
Since our research focused on isolation and mental health, we narrowed down our problem space to tackling isolation and finding ways of helping co-workers connect in remote workplaces.
Since our research focused on isolation and mental health, we narrowed down our problem space to tackling isolation and finding ways of helping co-workers connect in remote workplaces.
How might we...
promote mental health transparency between management and employees in a remote workplace to improve company wellbeing?
promote mental health transparency between management and employees in a remote workplace to improve company wellbeing?
Analysis & Ideation
Analysis & Ideation
Our next step in the design process was to identify existing products that focused on mental health improvement in the workplace. We conducted competitive analysis on two products (Ginger and First Up) and identified pain points. From our insights, we came up with ways that we could improve these products to focus on connecting teams and make mental health conversations more normalized in the workplace. We decided that we wanted to build a data visualization tool that would survey employees' feelings and their stress levels regarding projects, teamwork, and more.
Our next step in the design process was to identify existing products that focused on mental health improvement in the workplace. We conducted competitive analysis on two products (Ginger and First Up) and identified pain points. From our insights, we came up with ways that we could improve these products to focus on connecting teams and make mental health conversations more normalized in the workplace. We decided that we wanted to build a data visualization tool that would survey employees' feelings and their stress levels regarding projects, teamwork, and more.
Our next step in the design process was to identify existing products that focused on mental health improvement in the workplace. We conducted competitive analysis on two products (Ginger and First Up) and identified pain points. From our insights, we came up with ways that we could improve these products to focus on connecting teams and make mental health conversations more normalized in the workplace. We decided that we wanted to build a data visualization tool that would survey employees' feelings and their stress levels regarding projects, teamwork, and more.
Competitive Analysis
Before we started ideation, our team wanted to identify existing mental health and team tracking tools that were commonly utilized in corporate life.
One tool, Ginger (now Headspace Care), provided self-care resources and wellness content. However, it places full responsibility on employees without addressing workplace issues, and does not allow employees to truly connect with their teams.
The other tool we found, First Up, tracks team productivity and engagement. While it can help track company wellbeing, our team believed that high engagement does not equate to higher happiness. Additionally, the use of rankings can induce more anxiety than suggested.
Before we started ideation, our team wanted to identify existing mental health and team tracking tools that were commonly utilized in corporate life.
One tool, Ginger (now Headspace Care), provided self-care resources and wellness content. However, it places full responsibility on employees without addressing workplace issues, and does not allow employees to truly connect with their teams.
The other tool we found, First Up, tracks team productivity and engagement. While it can help track company wellbeing, our team believed that high engagement does not equate to higher happiness. Additionally, the use of rankings can induce more anxiety than suggested.
Ideation
Together, our team brainstormed ideas that combined and improved upon the two products we researched. We wanted to create an application that surveys employee mental health and a paired data visualization that presents team information.
The most important features of our design:
Surveys detailing stress levels, overall feelings, and team demographics.
Visualization that shows team members an anonymous summary for stress levels and overall well-being.
Data summary for management to dig deeper into individual team member insights.
Together, our team brainstormed ideas that combined and improved upon the two products we researched. We wanted to create an application that surveys employee mental health and a paired data visualization that presents team information.
The most important features of our design:
Surveys detailing stress levels, overall feelings, and team demographics.
Visualization that shows team members an anonymous summary for stress levels and overall well-being.
Data summary for management to dig deeper into individual team member insights.
Final Design
Final Design
Our final design is called CalmConnect, which includes a system diagram, mobile application, and desktop visualization. We also created two personas to demonstrate how our product would function in a corporate environment.
Our final design is called CalmConnect, which includes a system diagram, mobile application, and desktop visualization. We also created two personas to demonstrate how our product would function in a corporate environment.
Our final design is called CalmConnect, which includes a system diagram, mobile application, and desktop visualization. We also created two personas to demonstrate how our product would function in a corporate environment.
CalmConnect
CalmConnect is a combined app and data visualization tool that provides teams with the opportunity to start dialogues about mental health and facilitate a sense of unity amongst remote teams.
CalmConnect is a combined app and data visualization tool that provides teams with the opportunity to start dialogues about mental health and facilitate a sense of unity amongst remote teams.
Personas
Personas
Maria is a project manager and Darren is an engineer on her team. Maria's goal is to create a safe space for her team to share struggles and do their best work. Darren's goal is to feel more comfortable expressing his struggles and get support from his team.
Maria is a project manager and Darren is an engineer on her team. Maria's goal is to create a safe space for her team to share struggles and do their best work. Darren's goal is to feel more comfortable expressing his struggles and get support from his team.
Maria is a project manager and Darren is an engineer on her team. Maria's goal is to create a safe space for her team to share struggles and do their best work. Darren's goal is to feel more comfortable expressing his struggles and get support from his team.
System Diagram
System Diagram
This system diagram shows how the visibility of information would function within a company. Employees (like Darren) are able to anonymously view their own team's status, while managers (like Maria) can view all members/teams below them.
This system diagram shows how the visibility of information would function within a company. Employees (like Darren) are able to anonymously view their own team's status, while managers (like Maria) can view all members/teams below them.
This system diagram shows how the visibility of information would function within a company. Employees (like Darren) are able to anonymously view their own team's status, while managers (like Maria) can view all members/teams below them.
Team Survey
Team Survey
The team survey is a multi-step questionnaire that addresses problems such as overall mood, project-related stress levels, and other outstanding factors that contribute to employee well-being.
The team survey is a multi-step questionnaire that addresses problems such as overall mood, project-related stress levels, and other outstanding factors that contribute to employee well-being.
The team survey is a multi-step questionnaire that addresses problems such as overall mood, project-related stress levels, and other outstanding factors that contribute to employee well-being.
Data Visualization
Data Visualization
The data visualization allows Darren to see the average status of his group, while Maria receives in-depth summaries of these surveys. This allows Darren to feel more connected to his teammates and provides Maria the information needed to help accommodate her team’s needs.
The data visualization allows Darren to see the average status of his group, while Maria receives in-depth summaries of these surveys. This allows Darren to feel more connected to his teammates and provides Maria the information needed to help accommodate her team’s needs.
The data visualization allows Darren to see the average status of his group, while Maria receives in-depth summaries of these surveys. This allows Darren to feel more connected to his teammates and provides Maria the information needed to help accommodate her team’s needs.
Reflection
Thanks to our team's efforts, we placed first in our design sprint. I am grateful to have been part of a multi-disciplinary team of designers who share a passion for empathetic design. I got the chance to practice skills in research, visual design, and interaction design. This project inspired my passion for empathetic design and showed me the importance of keeping users at the center of our products. I saw the capability of design to connect individuals and how important it is to continue conversations about mental health, especially as we transition out of the isolation set by COVID-19.
If allowed more time, our team would have liked to take the following next steps:
Conduct interviews with post-grad employees to better understand their struggles when adjusting to remote work environments.
Test our prototype with potential users.
Thanks to our team's efforts, we placed first in our design sprint. I am grateful to have been part of a multi-disciplinary team of designers who share a passion for empathetic design. I got the chance to practice skills in research, visual design, and interaction design. This project inspired my passion for empathetic design and showed me the importance of keeping users at the center of our products. I saw the capability of design to connect individuals and how important it is to continue conversations about mental health, especially as we transition out of the isolation set by COVID-19.
If allowed more time, our team would have liked to take the following next steps:
Conduct interviews with post-grad employees to better understand their struggles when adjusting to remote work environments.
Test our prototype with potential users.
