Ad Platforms Celebrates
Ad Platform Celebrates is an internal platform and tool for peer-to-peer recognition. Users select a specific Apple-branded category to celebrate and create customized recognition for their peer. Celebrations are shared via Slack-integration to ultimately breed a culture of recognition within our team.
Role
User experience design, visual design, branding
Team
Ad Platforms Team
Amy, Yen, JJ, Ian
Time
10 weeks, 2021
My Design Process
I lead design of an entire internal recognition tool to boost team recognition within the Ad Platforms team, an organization of 2,000 people. My design process included research, ideation, and design phases. Simultaneously I also worked on the platform’s branding and visual identity.
Solution Preview
Homepage
Comprehensive and responsive home for sharing recognition, gallery of real-life examples, Ad Platform Values, and education.
Congratulations on the product launch, Johnny!
“Great job for the launch of the new website! It looks awesome and we couldn’t have done it without your incredible ideas.”
From Jane Appleseed
Ads
Value
Your impact is noticed.
Uplift your peers through personalized messages and Ad Platform Values. Recognition is shared with your peers into #AP_celebrates on Slack.
Ad Platform Values define who we are as a team and the impact we’re trying to drive in the world.
Learn more
What makes us, us.
Send Recognition
Slack channel
Send recognition
Celebrate someone.
Forms
Four Apple-branded form flows that allow users to customize and curate specific recognition shoutouts.
Celebrate Values
01
03
04
Custom message.
Personalized upload.
Upload image or video
Skip
Let them know the reason for the celebration! Be sure to include context as needed while keeping it concise.
Make them feel special with an image or short video message.
Express your celebration…
05
Your information.
Who is this celebration from? Fill in your name, team’s name, or leave it blank to keep the celebration a secret!
Jane Appleseed
Next
Nominate peers.
Send recognition to one or multiple peers.
Start typing a name…
Values
Recipients
Message
Upload
Your Information
02
Ad Platform Values.
Do the right thing.
Better together.
Which values are reflected in this recognition? Select up to six.
We lead with positive intent, integrity, and respect.
We all have something to learn and something to teach. From our newest hire to our seasoned veterans, we celebrate fresh perspective and depth of expertise.
Champion each other.
Follow our North Star.
We’re a community of thinkers, creators, and doers who hold ourselves accountable and help others succeed without asking “what’s in it for me?”
We’re unwavering in our commitment to create value for developers, advertisers, and users through privacy-centric advertising.
Go beyond.
We lean into creative friction to make our work, products, and teams better.
Debate sparks brilliance.
We push past our own limits to achieve bold goals.
Emails
System of eight email templates based on form categories and level of recipient.
Thank you for excelling in Ad Platform Values.
Johnny, kudos to you for embodying what it means to be a leader within Ad Platforms.
From Jane Appleseed
See your celebration on Slack
You exemplify…
Follow our North Star.
We’re unwavering in our commitment to create value for developers, advertisers, and users through privacy-centric advertising.
Learn more
Print your certificate
Slack Integration
Recognition is automated via Slack, achieved through collaboration with engineers. Social sharing encourages a culture of recognition.
Branding
Style guidelines and branding for the entire Ad Platforms organization, including specific branding of organizational values.
Ad Platforms
Celebrates
User Research
Identifying the Challenge
According to a study by Quantum Workplace, engagement, productivity, and performance are 14% higher at organizations with formal recognition programs than those without. Additionally, employees are 2.7x more likely to be “highly engaged” when they believe they will be recognized by leadership.
💡
How can we increase performance, performance, and engagement within the Ad Platforms team through a recognition program?
User Interviews
Gathering User Insights
I started by conducting one-on-one interviews with Ad Platforms marketing executives, designers, product managers, and engineers to identify their pain points related to internal recognition.
Through these discussions, I discovered that Ad Platforms sub-teams are often siloed and lack a common space to share achievements, a challenge exacerbated by the pandemic.
Competitive Analysis
Understanding External Trends and Expectations
To better understand internal tools, I researched how other large companies approach employee recognition. I also reviewed third-party programs commonly used by employers, such as Shoutout, Bonusly, and Guusto.
I specifically focused on dissecting Meta and Google’s tools, as these companies share a similar culture with Apple.
Meta: 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.
Open source bonus program where external contributors can be nominated for bonuses or recognition.
A potential problem could arise if some peers may not be recognized. Could this be demoralizing?
Affinity Mapping & Synthesis
Findings & Highlights
I compiled my findings on a whiteboard and collaboratively organized them with my team. Here are some of the key takeaways that were incorporated into the final design:
Provide Education
Inform users on how to use the platform for easy integration
Reward Participation
Thanking the appreciator will gives incentives on both ends
Tie in Ad Platforms Values
Organization-specific recognition influences decisions and drive culture
Actions to Promote Usage
Allow sharing, thanking privately, or returning the favor
Featured Examples
Showcase real examples of Ad Platform Values related recognition
After sharing my findings with the stakeholders, we were able to clearly define a goal statement and requirements.
Goal
Design an internal web-based interface to recognize individual and team milestones to create a culture of recognition.
Requirements
🤝 Peer to Peer - Integrate this tool into Slack, Apple’s channel of internal communication.
🍎 Unique Branding - Incorporate Ad Platforms’ six distinctive values into the core of this tool.
🌐 Built on the Intranet - Built on existing components or proposing custom components.
👩🏻💻 User Experience - Create an easy and intuitive UI with cohesive branding.
Design
Inspiration
Developing a Brand
To begin the visual design process, I gathered inspiration from other Apple Services websites. I envision this platform being described as:
Welcoming
Diverse
Rewarding
Sketching
Setting Up User Flow
Before finalizing my design, I sketched multiple iterations of the landing page, shoutout board, and submission form. I ensured the user flow remained clear, functional, and aligned with the Ad Platforms brand.
Icon Design
Tying in Ad Platform's Core Values
Following a stakeholder meeting, we identified the need for a centralized place for people to learn about our core values. As a side project, I developed a visual identity for Ad Platforms’ values that aligned with the platform's design. The goal was to integrate these values into the final solution, encouraging users to celebrate and reinforce them within the team culture.
Badge Design
Occasions to Celebrate
After integrating values into Ad Platforms Celebrates, we restructured the submission forms to include four categories of recognition: Ad Platforms Values, Achievements, Appleversary, and Just Because.
Each category is represented by a custom badge and a unique color blend, creating a distinctive yet cohesive identity for each.
Final Design
Ad Platforms Celebrates
Final Design
Homepage & Values
This tool is your one-stop shop for all internal recognition activities within Ad Platforms. Users can:
Send Recognition: Easily recognize colleagues.
Share to Slack: Post recognitions directly to Slack.
View Examples: See selected real-life recognitions.
Additionally, users can learn about Ad Platforms' core values, which are integral to the recognition process. Promoting these values within the tool helps influence and reinforce positive user behavior.
Final Design
Sending Recognition
Once you enter the tool, select the type of occasion you are celebrating – Ad Platform Values, Achievements, Appleversary, or just a Shoutout.
Final Design
Personalize Your Recognition
Once selected, you land on one of the four forms, curated to its category. User can personalize the form to make the recipient feel special. This helps the recipient recognize the impact of their work. After submitting, the sender can review and edit before sharing.
Final Design
Receiving Recognition
An email is sent to recipient’s inbox alerting them of their recognition. The recipient’s manager is also notified – direct leadership can play a role in further cultivating culture.
Recipient’s Email
Manager’s Email
Final Design
Building a Culture of Recognition
Celebrations are integrated into a Slack channel, a central hub for all of Ad Platforms org, where members can react and comment to celebrate recognitions.
Reflection
Overall, this project was more than just a website – it was also a program along with branding, emails, and a community. Through this experience, I gained confidence in my UX design skills, design intention, question asking, storytelling, stakeholder management, and truly felt a sense of product ownership.
Shoutout to the people who shaped my experience at Apple – Amy, Yen, JJ, Yen, Derek, Sam, Kathryn, Bonnie, and the other talented AP interns.
My design team celebrating my last day
Hiking with peers from the AP organization
I’m thrilled you’re here!
Let’s connect.
Resume
© Cheryl Cai 2024