“How can we improve connections with coworkers for remote workers to foster a sense of belonging and collaboration?”
Our project ‘ConnectX: Bridging the Digital Divide’ is an initiative to empower remote workers by strengthening coworker relationships and enhancing connections.
We are committed to developing innovative solutions that bridge the physical gap between remote workers and their teams. By harnessing the power of technology and fostering a culture of inclusivity, we aspire to break down the barriers that often isolate remote workers, enabling them to thrive in a connected, cohesive, and productive work environment. Through this project, we aim to enhance remote work experiences, create long-lasting bonds, and ensure that remote workers feel connected to their team members.
UX Researcher, UI Designer
Karneet Kaur, Lin-hsiu Huang
Figma, Google Forms, and Adobe Premier Pro
We started with a rough problem in mind to solve around the first week of October and eventually began to take surveys and do competitive analysis which gave us a very strong sense of the problem that we were aiming to cater to. Moving forward we brainstormed the ideas and provided them a shape by creating Information Architecture and User Flows. Next, we worked on the designing half starting with Low Fidelity designs, making rectifications, and eventually moving to High Fidelity. Once the designing part was over we focused on thoroughly testing our product with multiple users.
We initiated a survey, receiving 64 responses. The survey, designed to capture a broad spectrum of perspectives, uncovered the challenges of sustaining positive relationships among remote workers due to communication barriers and the absence of in-person interactions.
Justification: Surveys allowed us to gather a large volume of data from a diverse group of remote workers, providing insights into the prevalence of communication challenges.
Key insight: The majority of respondents use multiple tools yet still face relationship difficulties due to communication gaps and a lack of a mutual feeling of connection.
Four in-depth interviews explored daily routines, communication tools, team-building strategies, and recognition disparities among remote workers. Below are the insights that we gathered from the interviews.
Transparency
Challenges arise in remote setups when others are not fully aware of the amount of work and effort put in by an individual.
Trust
Building relationships and mutual trust is facilitated through informal conversations and understanding personal challenges.
Alignment
Effective communication of gaps and misses helps in realigning expectations and goals moving forward.
Relationship
Regular check-ins with teammates, with the depth of the relationship influencing the frequency.
Prioritization
Lack of interest in virtual event celebrations; preference for completing work and spending time with family.
Inclusivity
The ideal virtual workspace would promote a sense of belonging and collaboration through inclusive team-bonding events.
Onboarding
New team members may face challenges; encouraging open communication about struggles is essential.
Organization
Utilizes a calendar to keep track of commitments, manage schedules, and account for time zone variations.
Presence
Face-to-face interactions significantly enhance the sense of connection.
According to the research that we did, we divided our target users into 3 Primary categories: Individuals in their early careers, individuals who work in different time zones, and senior management. For each category, we had a conversation with multiple individuals and collectively created the following user personas.
After defining our problem statement, we put everything on the board and started to categorize things. After dividing everything, the most logical outcome was to divide the whole application into three major sections: schedule, blend, and file management. Once we categorized the features, we started defining and tried to make it a small ecosystem where all the features could be controlled by our AI assistant Pixie.
We sketched out all the features mentioned above in detail and made notes of things that made sense and contributed towards the solutions that we were aiming to provide through our ecosystem.
Feature 1: Centralized AI assistant
The sketch introduces an AI companion seamlessly integrated into your desktop, embodied, for instance, by a personable paper clip bot. This AI bot serves as a versatile assistant, efficiently handling various tasks to enhance productivity within a remote worker’s organization. Not only does it excel in scheduling meetings on your behalf, but it also excels in transcribing meeting notes (which will help with language barriers) and generating actionable next steps. Additionally, the AI bot extends its functionality to assist with basic tasks and answering organization-related questions, resembling the capabilities of Chat GPT but tailored specifically for organizational needs. It can intelligently answer queries, aiding in avoiding unnecessary inquiries to HR or managers. This concept envisions an intuitive and proactive AI companion designed to streamline work processes and support users in navigating their professional responsibilities.
Feature 2: Blend
Upon onboarding, individuals fill out a straightforward form to express their interests. They then have the option to send a link to someone, facilitating the creation of a "blend" of shared interests. Alternatively, users can set a standing duration for AI to match them with individuals or groups who share similar interests (weekly, bi-monthly, monthly, etc). Following a successful match, all group members receive either a task, activity, or question to engage in. The questions are designed to foster deeper connections among coworkers, while activities may be something like virtual lunches, and tasks might involve activities like picking up a cup of coffee from a local shop for a remote coffee chat with coworkers. This creative approach aims to enhance team cohesion and cultivate meaningful connections among team members.
Feature 3: File management
The sketch envisions a centralized platform serving as a hub for individual employees, enhancing collaboration and transparency. One notable feature is a page displaying everyone's availability, providing real-time insights into whether remote coworkers are in meetings, available, or engaged in a brainstorming session. A unique aspect is the option to join ongoing brainstorming sessions as a bystander, fostering transparency and enabling a seamless "work share" functionality. Additionally, the platform incorporates a section for centralized files and folders, streamlining information retrieval. The inclusion of widgets for various apps adds a layer of versatility, ensuring a comprehensive experience and integration of products for users.
Once the Ideation was complete we were all set to create Low-Fidelity wireframes, which will give an initial structure to the application, and on the basis of that, we can start testing and taking feedback.
The aesthetics of the application were going to play a crucial role in making things get done by the user. So our first instinct was to select a color that provides a sense of growth, health, and success. Eventually, we chose several variations of blue color and finally decided to go with "Midnight Melancholia". For the font, we wanted one that gives a friendly feel to use, and we chose "Inter".
After successfully completing all the previous steps it was time to give life to our low-fidelity wireframes by adding colors and fonts and components using the material you guidelines.
According to research by the time we come to an age where we need to start taking decisions by ourselves, our ability to command our brain to do something is so degraded that the first response that we get is NO, moreover, our brain loves to get distracted, and on every single distraction, it induces dopamine. This clearly shows that our mind needs an external entity to tell us what to do and when to do.
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