ReCollab
Enhancing remote team collaboration by addressing communication gaps and fostering informal connections for more effective teamwork.
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DESIGN STRATEGY + INNOVATION
Role : Design Strategist, Product Designer, Visual Designer
Timeline : Winter 2024
Team : Solo Project
Tools : Figma, Illustrator, Photoshop, Survey Monkey, Canva
Approach:
Discover
Analyze
Ideate
Prototype
Test
Iterate
Pitch
Communication gaps significantly hinder effective collaboration among remote design teams, impacting their ability to brainstorm, ideate, and iterate effectively.
Problem
The shift to remote work has introduced complexities that affect teamwork, trust, and productivity, emphasizing the need for innovative solutions to enhance team dynamics.
Fostering empathy and seamless collaboration within diverse remote teams.
Challenge
Understanding cognitive differences and integrating problem-solving methodologies are essential to creating a supportive environment for designers working remotely.
A comprehensive consultancy service is proposed to bridge communication gaps and enhance collaboration.
Solution
By implementing empathy-building workshops, shared ideation sessions, and holistic progress tracking tools, ReCollab aims to foster a collaborative culture that prioritizes the well-being of remote teams.
ReCollab
Consultancy Services
Facilitated Workshop Plans: Employees receive printed materials with detailed agendas, interactive activities, and spaces for note-taking and reflection.
Expert Facilitation: Led by ReCollab's coaches, fostering skill exchange, and solving collaboration challenges (example: empathy).
Guidebooks : The guidebooks offers step-by-step guidelines, practical tips and tricks, collaboration checklists, visual maps and models, and a facilitation guide to help team leaders conduct productive and inclusive sessions (example: ideation).
Interactive Cards: These cards feature thought-provoking prompts, activities, and conversation starters that facilitate deeper understanding (example: empathy) among team members.
Facilitation Tools: used during facilitated workshops to foster informal interactions and bonding, helping team members appreciate each other's unique perspectives.
Worksheets: Structured tools designed to facilitate various aspects of teamwork and personal development in remote corporate settings. These worksheets offer a tangible method for employees to engage in activities such as goal setting, self-reflection and (example: progress tracking).
Subject of Study
The subject of this study will be corporate teams in the USA, focusing on designers engaged in remote working. The project aims to investigate and address challenges faced by these teams to enhance team collaboration in the context of remote work.
Map of Research Space
This map illustrates how Design Management serves as a guiding framework for optimizing workflows and processes within Designers in Corporate Teams, ultimately enhancing their effectiveness in a Remote Working environment. In this context, design managers facilitate collaboration by bridging the gap between designers and non-designers, ensuring that diverse perspectives are valued.
As remote work introduces unique challenges, the synergy of these three elements fosters a culture of Improved Collaboration, enabling teams to adapt, innovate, and thrive in a digital landscape while maintaining strong interpersonal connections.
Secondary Research
An extensive secondary research concluded the 7 keys areas as gaps in collaborating while working remotely and research data further supported these. These areas then moulded into an Ecosystem Map when placed with stakeholders and subjects of study.
employees recorded to miss the social aspect of the office resulting in social isolation
employees felt a limited engagement from their teammates impacting the overall work outcome of the team
said they experienced a poor team-building compared to their on-ground office experiences
were not fully satisfied with their overall remote team collaboration experiences
Defining User Groups
Designers
As the primary users directly involved in the design process, understanding the experiences, challenges, and preferences of designers is crucial
Non-Designers
​Non-designers, such as marketers, or developers, collaborate closely with designers
Managers
Managers and team leaders play a pivotal role in shaping the work environment
Discussion Guide
Research Methodology
Survey Results
75%
RECOGNITION
respondents indicated that they feel undervalued in their current roles due to a lack of recognition from peers and management.
80%
ONBOARDING
new hires felt that their onboarding process was insufficient in helping them integrate into the team, leading to confusion and a slower adjustment period.
60%
SOCIAL ISOLATION
participants reported feeling socially isolated while working remotely, with many missing face-to-face interactions with colleagues.
65%
ENGAGEMENT
employees reported feeling disengaged from their work, citing a lack of meaningful interactions and collaborative opportunities with their teams.
70%
COLLABORATION
​respondents expressed frustration with their current collaboration tools, stating that they do not facilitate effective communication and teamwork.
55%
TRUST
respondents indicated that they do not feel a strong sense of trust within their teams, affecting their willingness to share ideas and collaborate openly.
In-depth Interviews
"I often feel like my efforts go unnoticed, and it's disheartening not to receive any acknowledgement from my team or management."
"Working remotely has left me feeling isolated; I really miss the casual chats and connections we used to have in the office."
"The collaboration tools we use are more of a hindrance than a help; they just complicate communication instead of simplifying it."
"My onboarding experience was lacking; I felt lost and didn't know how to connect with my new team effectively."
"I find it hard to stay engaged at work because there aren't enough opportunities for meaningful interactions with my colleagues."
"There's a noticeable lack of trust in our team, which makes me hesitant to share my ideas and collaborate openly."
Ecosystem Mapping
Gaps and Opportunities
Affinitized
Themes
Insight Framework
The insight framework examines remote working challenges within corporate teams, categorizing them into six key areas. This concise framework serves as a guide to understanding and addressing nuanced challenges in the remote working landscape within corporate teams. After examining the framework, the key problems belonged to Team-bonding and not Project Management, making the study more focused and directed towards team bonding.
Concept Development
This concept emphasizes a holistic approach to collaboration, considering not only professional aspects but also personal well-being. It focuses on creating a comprehensive ecosystem that addresses the physical, mental, and social aspects of remote working. The term "Comprehensive Collaboration" captures the idea of a well-rounded and interconnected approach to teamwork and remote collaboration.
This concept revolves around fostering a deep understanding and connection between designers and non-designers by acknowledging and appreciating the differences in thinking styles. The term "Empathy Building" encapsulates the essence of creating an environment where both designers and non-designers cultivate an understanding of each other's unique perspectives.
This concept centers around integrating design thinking methodologies into the collaborative process, creating a shared approach that blends the creative mindset of designers with the analytical mindset of non-designers. The term "Design Thinking Fusion" represents the harmonious integration of diverse thinking styles.
Ideation Board
Design Criteria
Concept Analysis
The collective approach of Empathy Building, Design Thinking Fusion, and Comprehensive Collaboration forms a cohesive toolkit designed for remote teams. Together, these concepts create a comprehensive and flexible package, promoting understanding, creativity, and problem-solving within remote teams.
Designers
Non-Designers
Managers
Concept Testing
Value Proposition Canvas
Designers
Non-designers
Managers
Brand
Development
ReCollab is a consultancy dedicated to fostering strong bonds and enhancing collaboration among remote corporate teams.
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With a focus on informal office bonds and heightened employee engagement, ReCollab envisions a world where geographical distances do not impede professional relationships.
Prototype Development
1. Brand Detailing
ReCollab's mission is to bridge the gaps between team members, particularly for designers, by providing innovative workshops and thoughtfully crafted toolkits. Complemented by our meticulously designed toolkits, which include interactive cards, guidebooks, and worksheets, ReCollab empowers teams to thrive in the remote work landscape.
2. Prototype Detailing
Taking three ideas/components as examples from the idea board:
1. Empathy Building
2. Shared Ideation
3. Holistic Progress Tracking
The prototype details all three kinds of products and services offered by ReCollab.
Usability Testing
Strategic Iteration - Decision Making
The most significant feedback from the usability testing highlighted a strong preference for avoiding digital services in the consultancy. Users reported a higher level of engagement with the printed materials of the workshop plans and toolkits, as these tangible resources provided a sense of familiarity and connection to their work environment, which the digital toolkits lacked. Additionally, the majority of users expressed resistance to any digital solutions, citing concerns that they would increase screen time and add to their workload. As a result, this feedback guided the decision to prioritize physical materials over digital offerings in the final design iteration.
Prioritization Matrix - Implementation Phases
The components from the ideation board were put in an Impact vs. Time Prioritization Matrix to come up with the Expansion Phases of ReCollab.
Competitor Analysis
Competitors
Business Model Canvas
Execution Stages
Attributes of Innovation
Adoption Curve
Takeaways
Conducting Interviews, Surveys and Focused Groups
Detailing a Consultancy Service according to Design Strategy
Affinitizing the findings and translating insights
Doing an end-to-end process project independently
Print Product Design
Overcoming design challenges with structured planning