Ad Platforms Celebrates

In the summer of 2021, I spent 12 weeks with the Apple Ad Platforms Creative team where I was tasked to design Ad Platforms Celebrates, an internal tool to boost team recognition within the Ad Platforms team, an organization of over 2000 people.

Role

User experience design, visual design, branding.

Time

12 weeks, 2021

Team

Amy, Yen, JJ, Ian

💡 Opportunity

When employees at a company believe they will be recognized, they are 2.7x more likely to be highly engaged in their work. Increasing recognition would encourage employees to uplift each other and create a healthier work culture which would impact other aspects of the company such as increased employee retention, improved productivity, stronger relationships, alignment on core values.

Process

Research

Gathering Anecdotes

I started off the project by setting up one on ones with actual Ad Platforms marketing executives, designers, product managers, and engineers to define their pain points regarding internal recognition.

I learned that Ad Platforms sub-teams are often siloed and lack a common space to share achievements – this separation was proliferated by the pandemic.

Research

Competitive Analysis

To better understand how internal tools work, I searched how other large companies tackle employee recognition. I also reviewed third-party programs that employers use within their company such as shoutout.cloud, Bonusly, and Guusto.

I wanted to dissect Facebook and Google’s tools deeper as these companies shared similar culture as Apple.

Facebook: Recognize App

Easily send, receive, and like recognitions in your newsfeed

Managers are notified of direct report recognitions and work anniversaries

Gamified experience where badges that symbolize value can be sent and received. Badges are worth monetary points, aka bonuses!

Google: Peer Bonus System

Peer-to-peer awards for accomplishments that may go unrecognized by managers.

A potential problem could arise if some peers may not be recognized. Could this be demoralizing?

Open source bonus program where external contributors can be nominated for bonuses or recognition.

Ideation

Affinity Map

I took my findings and compiled them on an artboard where I organized my thoughts with my team.

Highlights:

Incorporate education on how to use the app

Thank the appreciator – “Thank you for recognizing your peer’s efforts”

Select Ad Platforms Values (organization-specific >> guide decisions + drives culture)

Options afterward (thank privately, return a shoutout)

Attaching values with the shoutout >> generates real examples of each value

After sharing my findings with the stakeholders, we decided on the features for this program.

↓

Goal

Design an internal web-based interface to recognize individual and team milestones to create a culture of recognition.

🤝 Peer to Peer

Integrate this tool into Slack, Apple’s channel of internal communication.

🌐 Built on the Intranet

Built on existing components or proposing custom components.

🍎 Unique Branding

Incorporate Ad Platforms’ six distinctive values into the core of this tool.

👩🏻‍💻 User Experience

Create an easy and intuitive UI with cohesive branding.

Inspiration

Moodboard

To kick off visual designing, I gathered inspiration from other Apple Services websites.

I hope this platform can be described as

Welcoming

Diverse

Rewarding

Sketching

Setting up the user flow

Before reaching my final design, I sketched out iterations of the landing page, shoutout board, and submission form. I stayed mindful about keeping the user flow clear, functional, and true to the Ad Platforms brand.

Icon Design

Ad Platform Values

A side project I worked on was icon design for Ad Platforms Values. This project was a late add-on into Ad Platforms Celebrates after a stakeholder meeting where we realized we needed one place for people to learn about our values.

Badge Design

Occasions to Celebrate

After integrating values into Ad Platforms Celebrates, we restructured the submission forms to allow for 4 categories of recognition: Ad Platforms Values, Achievements, Appleversary, Just Because.

Each category is represented by a custom badge and a selection within the color blend to create a unique but cohesive identity for each.

Final Design

Ad Platforms Celebrates

An internal tool to celebrate each other, align on core values, and create a culture of recognition.

Homepage

Sending Recognition

Recieving Recognition

“>Being recognized and seeing this in your inbox may actually be many people’s first impressions and first point of entry to this tool – this must be a friendly and welcoming experience.

Here are some other examples of the other categories of appreciation: Ad Platforms Values, Achievements, Appleversay, Shoutouts.

Reflection

All in all, this project was not only a website but also a program along with branding, emails, and a community. I gained confidence in my UX design skills, design intention, asking questions, storytelling, stakeholder management, and truly felt product ownership.

A pivotal moment during my internship was when my mentor, Amy, told me “when you are uncomfortable, you are in a position to grow” – this is a mindset that I live by when I design and when I’m faced with challenges in the real world.

Shoutout to the people who shaped my summer at Apple – Amy, Yen, JJ, Yen, Derek, Sam, Kathryn, Bonnie, and the other talented AP interns.

My team celebrating the end of my internship.

Hiking with interns from the Ad Platforms org!

Hi again! I'm thrilled you're here.

Let's Connect.

Resume LinkedIn Email