Social Connections
This case study outlines the Datacom Social Connection project, which aims to enhance social connection in a hybrid working environment. The project focuses on designing an interactive digital experience, specifically a living wall, to facilitate meaningful interactions and bonding among team members.
Lets begin..
Context
Client - Datacom
Project Duration - 10 weeks / 4 sprints
My Role - UX designer | 3D modeler | Video creation | Game Designer
The project involves the installation of an interactive wall in the cafeteria space of the new Wellington office. The team's task is to determine what content should be displayed on the screen to facilitate social interaction among employees.
Project Brief
The Datacom Social Connection project aims to address the challenge of fostering social connection in today's hybrid working environment. With the spatial distance created by this new model, it has become more difficult to cultivate meaningful interactions among team members. The goal of this project is to bridge this gap by designing an interactive and immersive digital experience in the Datacom Wellington office that promotes connectivity within the organization. The solution will serve as a beacon of creativity, encouraging organic conversation and bonding.
Tools
Research
Space Analysis
The space analysis conducted after the Wellington office tour was an important aspect of the project. It helped the us gain a better understanding of the physical environment and how it could be utilized to enhance social connection among employees.
By placing the interactive wall in the cafeteria, We aimed to create a focal point that would attract employees and encourage them to engage with the digital experience. The wall would serve as a platform for fostering conversations, interactions, and collaboration among team members.
The analysis also considered the layout and design of the cafeteria space. Factors such as seating arrangements, natural lighting, and accessibility were taken into account to ensure that the interactive wall would be easily visible and accessible to employees.
Questions
How do you connect with other teams?
How are employees currently utilizing the office space?
How do you get to know (new) people in the office?
Current social connectedness barriers?
If there’s one thing you could change that would make it easier to connect with other office mates, what would that be?
User Research
User interviews were conducted with employees from the Wellington office to gather insights on how they connect with teams and other staff members, as well as how they utilize the current office space. Key interview questions revolved around understanding how employees connect outside their teams, how they use the new Wellington office, and what would encourage them to spend more time in the office.
Key Takeaways
Employees feel reaching out to other Employees on 'Teams’ feels like they are bothering them.
Employees have lots of appointments so they mostly have lunch by themselves.
Users want to connect with colleagues and co-workers in the Cafeteria
Users are not sure how to utilize spaces effectively
Wants a friendly competition that brings people together
Problem Identification
In a hybrid work environment, Datacom employees reported feeling socially disconnected from their teammates, with fewer opportunities for casual, spontaneous interactions. This lack of informal connection was impacting team cohesion and morale. Our goal was to understand how we might foster more meaningful day-to-day social interaction—without requiring formal meetings or extra time commitments—through an engaging digital experience integrated into the workplace.
Emily Thompson
Background
Emily has been working at Datacom for five years and is highly skilled in software development. She is passionate about innovative technology and enjoys finding out about here office co workers so she can feel more connected.
Pain Points
Unaware of the teams and roles other employees hold.
No Water cooler areas.
Goals
To connect with people outside my team.
Something to talk about when in a shared space.
Jobs to be done
“Help me connect with people outside of my team while in a shared space, so that I can expand my network.”
User insights
User Testing
As the project centered around an interactive wall, we encountered the challenge of conducting user testing on a mock-up. To address this, we created a wireframe video to show the envisioned interactions and get insights from users.
Molding on Spline
The team decided to use Spline, a 3D design software, to create the interactive scene for the Datacom Social Connection project, allowing them to incorporate various features and elements into their design.
Live Weather
The project seamlessly integrated real-time weather, mirroring the atmospheric conditions within the game environment. This innovative feature not only enhanced immersion but also fostered a deeper connection between staff members and their surrounding environments for those hard workers
