A case study redesigning website for PRIDEnet - the volunteer and community engagement sector of the PRIDE study.

Overview

Client

Cisco Systems, Inc., is an American multinational digital communications technology conglomerate corporation headquartered in San Jose, California.

Team


Interior Designers - 3

Timeline


5 months

The client is a global pharmaceutical company that is committed to developing new treatments in neuroscience like schizophrenia and major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder, and other neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions, including Alzheimer disease, epilepsy, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, and autism.

business Goal

Cisco wanted to create engaging breakout zones that promote relaxation, creativity, and social interaction.
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Their aim was to boost employee satisfaction, well-being, and ultimately increase productivity across teams by enhancing the workplace environment.

MY SCOPE

As a part of a 4 member team of Product Designers, my area of contribution was:

  • UX research to understand requirements and goals.
  • Service design to take a look at all the factors of the customer journey
    from start to finish focusing on on all touchpoints in the journey.
  • Synthesizing findings to ideate concepts and develop strategies.
  • Content design tasked with communicating information in the best
    way possible.
  • Revamping the UI ensuring a seamless intuitive experience for users
    and stakeholders alike.
  • Conducting User Testing to validate designs.

The Problem

Employees at Cisco lack engaging and wellness-oriented breakout zones, leading to decreased satisfaction and productivity.

The existing break areas do not fully meet the diverse needs and preferences of employees, leading to decreased engagement, higher stress levels, and potentially impacting overall productivity and job satisfaction.

The client is a global pharmaceutical company that is committed to developing new treatments in neuroscience like schizophrenia and major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder, and other neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions, including Alzheimer disease, epilepsy, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, and autism.

Design Challenge

How might we redesign break areas to create engaging zones that promote collaboration and employee well-being?
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MY SCOPE

As a part of a 4 member team of Product Designers, my area of contribution was:

The Solution

We designed quirky, colorful decor and fun themed communal spaces to foster collaboration, recreational areas like game rooms and relaxation zones.

Process - research

Discovery

We focused on the following :
• Understanding current break area usage patterns and pain points.
• Identifying employee preferences for recreational activities.
• Determining the potential impact on employee satisfaction and productivity.

User research &
Competitive Analysis

We conducted surveys and interviews to gather insights into employee habits, needs, and suggestions. We observed current break areas to identify usage patterns and areas for improvement.

We also studied break area offerings in similar corporate environments to gather best practices and innovation ideas. Google, Facebook, and Pixar had featured open layouts, comfortable lounges, casual meeting spaces and vibrant atmospheres reflecting their culture.


The first step in my research was to do primary research to understand the values and mission of PRIDEnet, understanding the nuances and sensitivity needed for research within the LGBTQ+ community.
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We started off by hosting a series of meetings and workshops with the PRIDEnet team to understand the difference between PRIDEnet and the PRIDE study. Since the timeline was pretty short, we were trying to understand what the PRIDEnet's team prioritized on needing first.

During this phase, we understood that the main problem was that everyone was not on the same page about the requirements. The way each team member defined engagement was different.

Understanding
Pain Points

limited relaxation opportunities

Employees do not have access to engaging and rejuvenating spaces during breaks, leading to monotony and reduced mental refreshment.

inadequate collaboration spaces

The current layout and design of break areas do not facilitate informal meetings, brainstorming sessions, or cross-team interactions, hindering collaboration and idea exchange.

neglected wellness needs

There is a lack of wellness-focused amenities such as massage zones or recreational areas, contributing to increased stress levels and decreased overall well-being among employees.

potential impact on productivity

The suboptimal break area experience may result in decreased productivity, creativity, and job satisfaction among employees, ultimately affecting business outcomes.

After having interviews with ambassadors, community partners and volunteers, we mapped out the complete journey that a user goes through from the beginning ( Find the website) to navigating through it, finding inforrmation on how to get involved and eventually becoming a volunteer with PRIDEnet and engaging more people to participate.

ideation

We organized brainstorming sessions to generate creative ideas for breakout zones and amenities. We then developed sketches to visualize and communicate proposed designs and features.

Opportunities

Key Strategies:
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• Design Engaging Breakout Zones: Create innovative and themed breakout areas such as digital play zones, camping-like cafeterias, and massage zones to encourage employees to take breaks and recharge.
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• Improve Collaboration and Communication: Foster a sense of community and collaboration among employees by designing breakout spaces that facilitate informal meetings, discussions, and idea sharing.

• Enhance Employee Well-being: Incorporate wellness zones and recreational activities to promote physical and mental health, reducing stress levels and increasing overall job satisfaction.

• Drive Employee Productivity: Provide an inspiring and rejuvenating workspace that encourages creativity, innovation, and efficient work practices, leading to improved individual and team performance.

3rd floor - 'Mela' : an Indian religious festival or fair

This space was designed for a breakout zone on the 3rd floor of the Cisco B17 building in Bangalore. The idea was to create a welcoming space for employees to sit and collaborate over coffee.  This zone also doubles as an open pantry/ cafe.  The theme is designed around a mela or an exhibition with Warli artwork prints. The partitions are have acoustic paneling and are finished with wallpaper for an authentic look.The furniture is made out of woven cane. Trellis work form the ceiling and are supported by columns. The seating is designed in the form of cubicles to give employees privacy.

Spacial Design

Interior Design | Set Design | Retail

Over the course of my career, I have designed and executed a number of projects that ranged from commercial and hospitality to residential and retail. One of my most favorites is this one - where I had the chance to redefine the entire coffee break experience for employees at Cisco.

4th floor - 'Camp us' : A camping with bonfire setup for a cozy cup of coffee

The theme is designed to look like a camping zone in the midst of the woods. In the center is a bonfire for a large group of people to sit around. There are also semi private zones with partitions made of bamboo. The furniture is made of FRP. The space is darkly set and is a fresh change from the regular office space.

5th floor - 'Games R Us' : Life size board games and more...

This zone is a relaxation and collaborative area that allows employees to cool off steam by engaging in games. With digital and magnetic boards for games like scrabble, backgammon, snakes and ladders and more, this space offers the complete set of popular games for employees to choose from.

A life size chess board occupies one corner of the room while an open pantry occupies another. The area is self contained with seating options for people and LCD screens for some games on electronic media. The space helps promote team spirit as well as to keep employees’ minds active.

6th floor - 'Out of the Box'- to literally think out of the box

A collaborative and discussion zone with partitions and enclosed spaces, these zones offer white boards with markers that can be used for brainstorming sessions amongst colleagues. The space is colourful and aptly named Out of the Box as the whole area looks like a series of boxes opened out and flaps overlapping one another. The partition panelling includes acoustics concealed with fabric. The colour coordinated flooring is covered with linoleum and marmoleum.

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