Included Overview
Transforming a sea of complex HR data into ‘Stories,’ a user-friendly platform that empowers executives to craft compelling narratives for driving meaningful diversity and inclusion strategies.
At Included, my work is a catalyst for meaningful transformation, both for our users and our internal team. My design of the custom storyboard feature empowers users to create individualized narratives from their own people and DEI data, profoundly enriching their daily engagement with the platform. By applying the ‘jobs to be done’ framework to restructure the product’s user flow, coupled with a meticulously designed filters dropdown, we’ve achieved unparalleled ease of use. Our innovative attrition risk models, displayed through an intuitive org chart view, provide actionable insights that drive organizational change.
Internally, the integration of Figma tokens has revolutionized our design process. This advancement not only sped up our prototyping capabilities but also created a seamless transition from design to code, facilitated by a single, definitive design system. As a result, we’ve accelerated the pace of user feedback collection and feature iteration, continuously enriching our platform’s value.
Transforming Anonymous Big Data into Empowering, Impact-Driven Narratives
Introduction
Included began as a platform that collected extensive data from clients’ HR and recruiting tools. The real challenge emerged when we asked: How can we use this data to help executives create a more diverse and inclusive workplace? Especially when many companies had made ambitious promises to diversify, we realized the need for a tool that could translate complex data into actionable insights. That’s when we developed ‘Stories.’
My role was multi-faceted. I engaged with Chief People Officers, DEI Directors, and Talent Acquisition Leaders to deeply understand their goals and metrics. Based on their needs, I designed initial sketches that captured the stories they wanted to tell with data. These sketches evolved into a versatile UI toolkit. Using Figma and Figma Tokens, I collaborated with our engineering team to build a robust system. This allows any stakeholder to easily create compelling, data-driven narratives complete with information graphics and AI-driven insights.
Objective
To create a scalable platform that transforms complex HR data into actionable narratives, empowering executives to achieve their diversity goals.
The primary Key Performance Indicator (KPI) that gauged our project’s success was the feature adoption rate across our client base. We were thrilled to find that the feature was an unequivocal hit; every client eagerly sought to integrate it into their systems as rapidly as we could deploy it.
Research and Discovery
Expert Consultations
I began by consulting with top-tier advisors at Included, including Chief People Officers from some of the world’s most prominent organizations. Their insights were instrumental in shaping the project’s direction.
User Interviews
In addition to our existing client base, I sought external perspectives by conducting targeted user interviews with Chief Diversity Officers. These interviews were facilitated through UserInterviews.com, ensuring a diverse range of opinions and expertise.
Key Findings
Our research revealed that organizations value understanding their workforce through multiple lenses such as Headcount, Starts, Attrition, and Employee Engagement. These dimensions became the cornerstone of our platform’s functionality.
Persona Development
For persona targeting, I honed in on the key stakeholders that Chief People Officers regularly report to—senior executives, board members, and senior HR leadership. I also recognized the toolset needed to be adaptable for junior analysts on HR and People teams. The end goal was a platform versatile enough for users at all organizational levels to craft data-driven, narrative-based reports.
Design
Data Documentation
The first crucial step involved meticulous documentation of the types of data, insights, and thought patterns that Chief People Officers use. This information was captured during interviews and stored in OneNote for easy reference.
Sketching and Ideation
The documented details were translated into preliminary sketches. These sketches served as conversation starters with Chief People Officers, enabling us to shape a narrative view aligned with the forthcoming UI toolkit.
Prototyping
Leveraged the capabilities of ReCharts libraries to craft a series of Figma prototypes for our information graphics. Minor customizations ensured the prototypes effectively conveyed the stories that needed to be told.
Design Tokens and Engineering Collaboration
Utilized Figma and Figma Tokens to extend our design elements directly into the codebase. This fostered seamless collaboration between the design and engineering teams, optimizing both aesthetics and functionality.
Results
Client Adoption
Our new module was a resounding success, with 100% of our clients opting to integrate it into their existing systems.
Engineering Efficiency
The implementation of Figma Tokens revolutionized our engineering process, enabling our team to develop features at an unprecedented speed.
Sales Efficacy
The system’s versatility allowed us to create tailored sales prototypes, resulting in more effective deal closures.
Industry Recognition
Our groundbreaking work didn’t go unnoticed; we won the 2023 Innovation Award for DEI in the Workplace, affirming our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive environment.
