Conversations is a platform that enables managers and employees to have regular, meaningful discussions about work-related topics such as career growth, feedback, and recognition. The goal of Conversations is to foster a culture of open communication and collaboration within the workplace, ultimately leading to increased engagement, retention, and productivity.
My role
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Devise and implement a Conversations strategy aimed at attracting customers, transforming the industry, and boosting engagement with Workhuman products.
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Collaborate with designers and engineers to define feature functionality and oversee the execution of the product roadmap.
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Lead planning, prioritization, metrics tracking, marketing, messaging, positioning, and go-to-market plans.
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Successfully manage complex, user-facing product launches within project timelines and budget constraints.
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Develop visually appealing product interfaces and marketing materials that are consistent with the brand and targeted audience.
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Establish relationships with critical customers by utilizing effective communication and feedback loops to improve engagement and retention rates.
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Work on technical platforms and user-facing features to deliver high-quality products that satisfy business and user needs.
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Communicate persuasively through both oral and written channels and motivate the team to pursue a common goal.
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Flourish in a fast-paced, startup environment by utilizing humor and a can-do attitude to achieve results.
Key activities I led
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Hiring, managing and mentoring other team members while the Conversations team grew while grew.
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Research: worked hands-on with our in-house product research team to understand Jobs to be done, all discovery research, competitor analysis.
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Ran executive and client workshops to better integrate stakeholder expectations, business rational and company goals into product planning and delivery of right solution.
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Work with wider design team and oversaw creation of visual identity, product style and direction as well as contributions to new company-wide design system..
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Collaborated with marketing, CSM and LSM groups to ensure a unified approach to product launch, marketing and promotional materials including learning and development for process change.
Skills utilised
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Product strategy & vision
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Interaction design
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Prototyping and user testing
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Mobile design
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Information architecture
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User research and analysis
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Hiring
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Goal setting for team members
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Collaboration and workshopping
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Goal setting (OKRs)
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Agile methodology
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Project management
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Communication and collaboration with cross-functional teams
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UX writing and content design
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Data analysis and interpretation
Key outputs and outcomes
- +6.3 million pieces of content created.
- Over 1 million users served.
- Team growth from 7 to over 40 people.
- 15 clients.
- Clickable prototype below (Hover header and click fullscreen)
In depth details
Introduction
Conversations was a product designed to help users take ownership of their performance development. As the principal product designer on this project, I was responsible for ensuring that the product met the needs of users and aligned with the vision of stakeholders.
Objective
The primary goal of Conversations was to offer a new way for users to own their performance development. The product aimed to help managers better help employees grow by providing a culture of feedback that users could utilise more continuously. As a leader in recognition software, we saw an opportunity to capitalise on the importance of feedback.
Challenges
The main challenge we faced was time. We had a hard deadline, and we needed to work quickly and efficiently to ensure that we met our goals. Additionally, we had to overcome a mindset change in organisations that were tied to the older way of doing performance development. Many companies saw it as a checkbox exercise.
Approach
We used Agile product development and design thinking methodologies to ensure that we were solving a genuine problem for users. We overcame challenges by collaborating, keeping work small and iterative, and by working closely with stakeholders.
Results
The launch of Conversations was a success, with several internationally recognised companies signing up within the first three months. We achieved our goal of onboarding 250,000 users in the first three months, and we won an award for UX Achievement in Productivity & Utilities from UX Awards Ireland.
Learnings
I learned that assumptions should always be challenged. I learned that collaborative working is better than working in siloes, and that a clear vision for what the product will become is also important. In the future, I will look to get help more frequently. Asking for more help and resources is always going to be difficult in an unproven situation but by showing humility and saying that you need help is a powerful weapon.
Conclusion
As the principal product designer on the Conversations launch project, I played a crucial role in driving the product's success. I led the charge in understanding the needs and wants of the users, which in turn helped to align stakeholders and drive the product's vision forward. Additionally, I utilised agile and design thinking methodologies to ensure that the product was solving a genuine problem for users, and collaborated effectively to overcome obstacles and achieve the project's goals. Overall, my work on Conversations was instrumental in the product's success, demonstrating strong leadership, a deep understanding of user needs, and a commitment to collaboration and iteration.
Selected visuals from Conversations
