YOUNG BIN HWANG

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YOUNG BIN HWANG

About

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Enhancing Workplace Communication and Connection

Enhancing Workplace Communication and Connection

In 2022, several clients of HR4, a leading workforce management platform, requested a more efficient employee engagement system.

Drive Growth Through Taking Sense of Ownership

For over 10 years, HR4 has provided exceptional HR management solutions to over 1000 clients. While our platform has delivered on our clients' expectations in the past, we notice that the needs of today's workforce are evolving. To meet this demand, we have developed a solution to foster a greater sense of belonging and engagement among employees recognizing that a better sense of ownership leads to a sense of growth.

My Role

Understanding Clients

As a UX designer, I collaborated with a product manager to lead user research for an HR platform redesign. Through surveys, interviews, and stakeholder consultations, we gathered insights that shaped the homepage design to meet user needs and expectations.

Strategize Problem Solving

Based on user research insights, I created user flows, wireframes, and prototypes for the HR platform homepage redesign. These concepts guided developers on design direction and technical requirements, ensuring a smooth development phase and effective execution.

Priortizing Project Goal

This project will impact HR4's services, so we prioritized key goals to establish a strong foundation, deferring low-priority features. Focusing on these priorities ensures we meet client needs and deliver a high-quality HR management platform.

Setting Up A New Design Standard

Our goal is to set new design standards, replacing the outdated structure, to ensure a modern, efficient user experience that meets evolving needs and guides future developers and designers.

Coordination & Quality Assurance

To ensure seamless collaboration across all product and development teams, I established clear and efficient communication channels through Jira.

Follow Up

After meeting our primary goals, we'll gather client feedback to refine features and address bugs promptly, ensuring we meet evolving needs and maintain satisfaction with the HR platform.

My Role

Behavioral Research
User Interviews

UX Design

UI Design

Tools

Figma

Photoshop

Illustrator

Visual Studio

Team

1 UX/UI Designer (me)

2 PM

7 Devs

Timeline

Feb 2023 - June 2023

Kickoff

Diagnose Problems

Undertaking a thorough UX research process, I collected relevant literature and analyzed the competitive market, which were integral steps. Additionally, I conducted primary research through surveys and interviews with our product team and executive-level clients. This comprehensive and multi-faceted approach allowed me to identify, understand, and address key issues to enhance our product's user experience.

“A sense of belonging not only meets your employees’ basic needs, it inspires their work and drives better business results.”

Herbert, Cecelia. "Belonging at work: The top driver of employee engagement." Web blog post. Qualtrics. 16 September 2022. Web. 24 September 2022. <https://www.qualtrics.com/blog/belonging-at-work/>.

Research

Literature Review

HR software needs to be more than just a tool offering basic HR features. It should be exceptional, aiming to significantly improve employee engagement, business performance, and employee well-being. For this to happen, companies must utilize such software to foster a sense of belonging among their employees.


Sense of Belonging


Belonging is an employee’s sense that their uniqueness is accepted and even treasured by their organization and colleagues. To instill a sense of belonging among employees, companies must be able to provide the following elements:


1. Transparency, ensuring equal access to information for all; 2. Recognition of accomplishments;

3. A warm welcome for new employees; and

4. Acceptance and appreciation of individuals as whole persons.


Literature underscores the importance of cultivating a culture of recognition. Such an environment aids in fostering a sense of community and reinforces the notion that every contribution is valuable.

HR software needs to be more than just a tool offering basic HR features. It should be exceptional, aiming to significantly improve employee engagement, business performance, and employee well-being. For this to happen, companies must utilize such software to foster a sense of belonging among their employees.


Sense of Belonging


Belonging is an employee’s sense that their uniqueness is accepted and even treasured by their organization and colleagues. To instill a sense of belonging among employees, companies must be able to provide the following elements: 1. Transparency, ensuring equal access to information for all; 2. Recognition of accomplishments; 3. A warm welcome for new employees; and 4. Acceptance and appreciation of individuals as whole persons. Literature underscores the importance of cultivating a culture of recognition. Such an environment aids in fostering a sense of community and reinforces the notion that every contribution is valuable.

HR software needs to be more than just a tool offering basic HR features. It should be exceptional, aiming to significantly improve employee engagement, business performance, and employee well-being. For this to happen, companies must utilize such software to foster a sense of belonging among their employees.


Sense of Belonging


Belonging is an employee’s sense that their uniqueness is accepted and even treasured by their organization and colleagues. To instill a sense of belonging among employees, companies must be able to provide the following elements: 1. Transparency, ensuring equal access to information for all; 2. Recognition of accomplishments; 3. A warm welcome for new employees; and 4. Acceptance and appreciation of individuals as whole persons. Literature underscores the importance of cultivating a culture of recognition. Such an environment aids in fostering a sense of community and reinforces the notion that every contribution is valuable.

Research Outcome

Interestingly, our competitor analysis revealed that the core functions of these HR platforms could be categorized into three main sections: 1. Reports of employee or manager's progress, 2. Communication tools for the company, and 3. Action plans based on users' progress. However, no competitor incorporated all three sections simultaneously. When a platform focuses more on sharing personal progress reports, it often lacks ways to connect people to the company culture, and vice-versa. The biggest challenge was to blend these important features together.

Interestingly, our competitor analysis revealed that the core functions of these HR platforms could be categorized into three main sections: 1. Reports of employee or manager's progress, 2. Communication tools for the company, and 3. Action plans based on users' progress. However, no competitor incorporated all three sections simultaneously. When a platform focuses more on sharing personal progress reports, it often lacks ways to connect people to the company culture, and vice-versa. The biggest challenge was to blend these important features together.

Interestingly, our competitor analysis revealed that the core functions of these HR platforms could be categorized into three main sections: 1. Reports of employee or manager's progress, 2. Communication tools for the company, and 3. Action plans based on users' progress. However, no competitor incorporated all three sections simultaneously. When a platform focuses more on sharing personal progress reports, it often lacks ways to connect people to the company culture, and vice-versa. The biggest challenge was to blend these important features together.

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Primary Research

I conducted a survey gathering 173 responses from seven different dealerships to identify the key functions users would prefer on their main homepage. The results indicated that users prioritize the message function most and the post function least. Given that the primary customer base of HR4 consists mainly of car dealerships, these users tend to want connection to industry and company news or need to identify their urgent tasks and the actions they should take.

Interestingly, our competitor analysis revealed that the core functions of these HR platforms could be categorized into three main sections: 1. Reports of employee or manager's progress, 2. Communication tools for the company, and 3. Action plans based on users' progress. However, no competitor incorporated all three sections simultaneously. When a platform focuses more on sharing personal progress reports, it often lacks ways to connect people to the company culture, and vice-versa. The biggest challenge was to blend these important features together.

Interestingly, our competitor analysis revealed that the core functions of these HR platforms could be categorized into three main sections: 1. Reports of employee or manager's progress, 2. Communication tools for the company, and 3. Action plans based on users' progress. However, no competitor incorporated all three sections simultaneously. When a platform focuses more on sharing personal progress reports, it often lacks ways to connect people to the company culture, and vice-versa. The biggest challenge was to blend these important features together.

Employee Level Interview

I have interviewed with 5 employees (Sales consultant, Receptionist, and Brand specialist) to identify their needs and summarized them into 3 key sections.

Interestingly, our competitor analysis revealed that the core functions of these HR platforms could be categorized into three main sections: 1. Reports of employee or manager's progress, 2. Communication tools for the company, and 3. Action plans based on users' progress. However, no competitor incorporated all three sections simultaneously. When a platform focuses more on sharing personal progress reports, it often lacks ways to connect people to the company culture, and vice-versa. The biggest challenge was to blend these important features together.

Interestingly, our competitor analysis revealed that the core functions of these HR platforms could be categorized into three main sections: 1. Reports of employee or manager's progress, 2. Communication tools for the company, and 3. Action plans based on users' progress. However, no competitor incorporated all three sections simultaneously. When a platform focuses more on sharing personal progress reports, it often lacks ways to connect people to the company culture, and vice-versa. The biggest challenge was to blend these important features together.

"There’s not much to do on the homepage. I only use it when I first onboard or when I need to request time off. It’d be great if there were more features."

"I wish there were clearer guidelines for my tasks, to-dos, and KPIs. Sometimes it's hard to know exactly what’s expected of me."

"I wish I felt more connected to the company—things like company news and culture would help me feel more engaged."

Manager Level Interview

Then, I have interviewed with 5 managers (F&I Manager, Sales Manager, General Manager, and HR Manager) and also summarized their insights.

Interestingly, our competitor analysis revealed that the core functions of these HR platforms could be categorized into three main sections: 1. Reports of employee or manager's progress, 2. Communication tools for the company, and 3. Action plans based on users' progress. However, no competitor incorporated all three sections simultaneously. When a platform focuses more on sharing personal progress reports, it often lacks ways to connect people to the company culture, and vice-versa. The biggest challenge was to blend these important features together.

Interestingly, our competitor analysis revealed that the core functions of these HR platforms could be categorized into three main sections: 1. Reports of employee or manager's progress, 2. Communication tools for the company, and 3. Action plans based on users' progress. However, no competitor incorporated all three sections simultaneously. When a platform focuses more on sharing personal progress reports, it often lacks ways to connect people to the company culture, and vice-versa. The biggest challenge was to blend these important features together.

"As a manager, I need all my reminders in one place at a glance—it helps me stay on top of everything."

"There’s no tool to help my employees stay self-motivated. I wish there was something to keep them engaged and driven."

"The current HR system doesn’t provide a quick overview of ToDo's and tasks. As a manager, I need an easier way to stay on top of everything."

Process Map

I have narrowed down to have 3 key functions to fulfill our clients' needs based on the research.


1. Message function allowing users to quickly share mandatory information in the company.

2. Culture Posting function to efficiently deliver latest news in the company in more interesting and fun way to draw employees attentions.

3. Company Events function that users can track down in calendar to avoid missing important schedule that requires their attendance.


Along with these ideas, I have designed this process map for each scenario in order to efficiently layout the steps users need to take for their actions.

Interestingly, our competitor analysis revealed that the core functions of these HR platforms could be categorized into three main sections: 1. Reports of employee or manager's progress, 2. Communication tools for the company, and 3. Action plans based on users' progress. However, no competitor incorporated all three sections simultaneously. When a platform focuses more on sharing personal progress reports, it often lacks ways to connect people to the company culture, and vice-versa. The biggest challenge was to blend these important features together.

Interestingly, our competitor analysis revealed that the core functions of these HR platforms could be categorized into three main sections: 1. Reports of employee or manager's progress, 2. Communication tools for the company, and 3. Action plans based on users' progress. However, no competitor incorporated all three sections simultaneously. When a platform focuses more on sharing personal progress reports, it often lacks ways to connect people to the company culture, and vice-versa. The biggest challenge was to blend these important features together.

User Testing

I have gathered internal team consisted of both employee and manager level employees for testing 100+ mid-fi wireframes. The focus was mainly to see if the users could seamlessly find out what to do in the backend prototype to produce messages, culture posts and company events.

HR software needs to be more than just a tool offering basic HR features. It should be exceptional, aiming to significantly improve employee engagement, business performance, and employee well-being. For this to happen, companies must utilize such software to foster a sense of belonging among their employees.


Sense of Belonging


Belonging is an employee’s sense that their uniqueness is accepted and even treasured by their organization and colleagues. To instill a sense of belonging among employees, companies must be able to provide the following elements: 1. Transparency, ensuring equal access to information for all; 2. Recognition of accomplishments; 3. A warm welcome for new employees; and 4. Acceptance and appreciation of individuals as whole persons. Literature underscores the importance of cultivating a culture of recognition. Such an environment aids in fostering a sense of community and reinforces the notion that every contribution is valuable.

HR software needs to be more than just a tool offering basic HR features. It should be exceptional, aiming to significantly improve employee engagement, business performance, and employee well-being. For this to happen, companies must utilize such software to foster a sense of belonging among their employees.


Sense of Belonging


Belonging is an employee’s sense that their uniqueness is accepted and even treasured by their organization and colleagues. To instill a sense of belonging among employees, companies must be able to provide the following elements: 1. Transparency, ensuring equal access to information for all; 2. Recognition of accomplishments; 3. A warm welcome for new employees; and 4. Acceptance and appreciation of individuals as whole persons. Literature underscores the importance of cultivating a culture of recognition. Such an environment aids in fostering a sense of community and reinforces the notion that every contribution is valuable.

finding #1

Streamlining the Homepage for Seamless Navigation

Testers commonly expressed that having separate homepages for employees and managers offered no clear advantage. The original design aimed to provide flexibility, allowing users to switch views based on their needs—whether tracking personal progress or managing employees. However, users found this separation unnecessary and frustrating, particularly on mobile devices, where extra clicks and excessive scrolling disrupted the experience.

HR software needs to be more than just a tool offering basic HR features. It should be exceptional, aiming to significantly improve employee engagement, business performance, and employee well-being. For this to happen, companies must utilize such software to foster a sense of belonging among their employees.


Sense of Belonging


Belonging is an employee’s sense that their uniqueness is accepted and even treasured by their organization and colleagues. To instill a sense of belonging among employees, companies must be able to provide the following elements: 1. Transparency, ensuring equal access to information for all; 2. Recognition of accomplishments; 3. A warm welcome for new employees; and 4. Acceptance and appreciation of individuals as whole persons. Literature underscores the importance of cultivating a culture of recognition. Such an environment aids in fostering a sense of community and reinforces the notion that every contribution is valuable.

HR software needs to be more than just a tool offering basic HR features. It should be exceptional, aiming to significantly improve employee engagement, business performance, and employee well-being. For this to happen, companies must utilize such software to foster a sense of belonging among their employees.


Sense of Belonging


Belonging is an employee’s sense that their uniqueness is accepted and even treasured by their organization and colleagues. To instill a sense of belonging among employees, companies must be able to provide the following elements: 1. Transparency, ensuring equal access to information for all; 2. Recognition of accomplishments; 3. A warm welcome for new employees; and 4. Acceptance and appreciation of individuals as whole persons. Literature underscores the importance of cultivating a culture of recognition. Such an environment aids in fostering a sense of community and reinforces the notion that every contribution is valuable.

finding #2

Reducing Clutter for a More Engaging Homepage

Users found the homepage overwhelming and struggled to determine what to prioritize. While the abundance of data and actionable items is valuable, the overall interface felt too heavy. Testers expressed a need for a more inviting and engaging experience—one that balances essential information with a touch of warmth, such as company updates, upcoming events, or employee birthdays, to create a more user-friendly atmosphere.

HR software needs to be more than just a tool offering basic HR features. It should be exceptional, aiming to significantly improve employee engagement, business performance, and employee well-being. For this to happen, companies must utilize such software to foster a sense of belonging among their employees.


Sense of Belonging


Belonging is an employee’s sense that their uniqueness is accepted and even treasured by their organization and colleagues. To instill a sense of belonging among employees, companies must be able to provide the following elements: 1. Transparency, ensuring equal access to information for all; 2. Recognition of accomplishments; 3. A warm welcome for new employees; and 4. Acceptance and appreciation of individuals as whole persons. Literature underscores the importance of cultivating a culture of recognition. Such an environment aids in fostering a sense of community and reinforces the notion that every contribution is valuable.

HR software needs to be more than just a tool offering basic HR features. It should be exceptional, aiming to significantly improve employee engagement, business performance, and employee well-being. For this to happen, companies must utilize such software to foster a sense of belonging among their employees.


Sense of Belonging


Belonging is an employee’s sense that their uniqueness is accepted and even treasured by their organization and colleagues. To instill a sense of belonging among employees, companies must be able to provide the following elements: 1. Transparency, ensuring equal access to information for all; 2. Recognition of accomplishments; 3. A warm welcome for new employees; and 4. Acceptance and appreciation of individuals as whole persons. Literature underscores the importance of cultivating a culture of recognition. Such an environment aids in fostering a sense of community and reinforces the notion that every contribution is valuable.

finding #3

Users don't want to spend too much time on the dashboard.

According to our research, our team initially believed that adding more features to the dashboard would enhance the user experience by allowing more tasks to be completed on a single screen. However, most users simply wanted to quickly check what’s going on, including any actions required for their employees or themselves, and then move on to other apps by clicking the app panels.

HR software needs to be more than just a tool offering basic HR features. It should be exceptional, aiming to significantly improve employee engagement, business performance, and employee well-being. For this to happen, companies must utilize such software to foster a sense of belonging among their employees.


Sense of Belonging


Belonging is an employee’s sense that their uniqueness is accepted and even treasured by their organization and colleagues. To instill a sense of belonging among employees, companies must be able to provide the following elements: 1. Transparency, ensuring equal access to information for all; 2. Recognition of accomplishments; 3. A warm welcome for new employees; and 4. Acceptance and appreciation of individuals as whole persons. Literature underscores the importance of cultivating a culture of recognition. Such an environment aids in fostering a sense of community and reinforces the notion that every contribution is valuable.

HR software needs to be more than just a tool offering basic HR features. It should be exceptional, aiming to significantly improve employee engagement, business performance, and employee well-being. For this to happen, companies must utilize such software to foster a sense of belonging among their employees.


Sense of Belonging


Belonging is an employee’s sense that their uniqueness is accepted and even treasured by their organization and colleagues. To instill a sense of belonging among employees, companies must be able to provide the following elements: 1. Transparency, ensuring equal access to information for all; 2. Recognition of accomplishments; 3. A warm welcome for new employees; and 4. Acceptance and appreciation of individuals as whole persons. Literature underscores the importance of cultivating a culture of recognition. Such an environment aids in fostering a sense of community and reinforces the notion that every contribution is valuable.

finding #4

Users Prefer Comprehensive Information at a Glance

During user testing, participants expressed concerns about spending excessive time on the dashboard. However, they also desired quick access to as much company-related information as possible. While this may seem contradictory at first, it highlights a key UX insight: the dashboard should remain streamlined for quick scanning, while a dedicated screen can provide users with in-depth company updates when they choose to engage further. This approach balances efficiency with accessibility, ensuring users can navigate information on their terms.

HR software needs to be more than just a tool offering basic HR features. It should be exceptional, aiming to significantly improve employee engagement, business performance, and employee well-being. For this to happen, companies must utilize such software to foster a sense of belonging among their employees.


Sense of Belonging


Belonging is an employee’s sense that their uniqueness is accepted and even treasured by their organization and colleagues. To instill a sense of belonging among employees, companies must be able to provide the following elements: 1. Transparency, ensuring equal access to information for all; 2. Recognition of accomplishments; 3. A warm welcome for new employees; and 4. Acceptance and appreciation of individuals as whole persons. Literature underscores the importance of cultivating a culture of recognition. Such an environment aids in fostering a sense of community and reinforces the notion that every contribution is valuable.

HR software needs to be more than just a tool offering basic HR features. It should be exceptional, aiming to significantly improve employee engagement, business performance, and employee well-being. For this to happen, companies must utilize such software to foster a sense of belonging among their employees.


Sense of Belonging


Belonging is an employee’s sense that their uniqueness is accepted and even treasured by their organization and colleagues. To instill a sense of belonging among employees, companies must be able to provide the following elements: 1. Transparency, ensuring equal access to information for all; 2. Recognition of accomplishments; 3. A warm welcome for new employees; and 4. Acceptance and appreciation of individuals as whole persons. Literature underscores the importance of cultivating a culture of recognition. Such an environment aids in fostering a sense of community and reinforces the notion that every contribution is valuable.

wants ≠ needs

After conducting research and interviews, I organized and analyzed all the insights and concluded that I need to focus on making each section clearly define its purpose with a straightforward design and simple structure.

HR software needs to be more than just a tool offering basic HR features. It should be exceptional, aiming to significantly improve employee engagement, business performance, and employee well-being. For this to happen, companies must utilize such software to foster a sense of belonging among their employees.


Sense of Belonging


Belonging is an employee’s sense that their uniqueness is accepted and even treasured by their organization and colleagues. To instill a sense of belonging among employees, companies must be able to provide the following elements: 1. Transparency, ensuring equal access to information for all; 2. Recognition of accomplishments; 3. A warm welcome for new employees; and 4. Acceptance and appreciation of individuals as whole persons. Literature underscores the importance of cultivating a culture of recognition. Such an environment aids in fostering a sense of community and reinforces the notion that every contribution is valuable.

HR software needs to be more than just a tool offering basic HR features. It should be exceptional, aiming to significantly improve employee engagement, business performance, and employee well-being. For this to happen, companies must utilize such software to foster a sense of belonging among their employees.


Sense of Belonging


Belonging is an employee’s sense that their uniqueness is accepted and even treasured by their organization and colleagues. To instill a sense of belonging among employees, companies must be able to provide the following elements: 1. Transparency, ensuring equal access to information for all; 2. Recognition of accomplishments; 3. A warm welcome for new employees; and 4. Acceptance and appreciation of individuals as whole persons. Literature underscores the importance of cultivating a culture of recognition. Such an environment aids in fostering a sense of community and reinforces the notion that every contribution is valuable.

Deliver

Final Design

Our final design aimed to present company trends while incorporating action-planning capabilities, ensuring that each user can focus on their tasks efficiently. To achieve this, we structured the layout so that each section is evenly sized and positioned, with clear, concise content that allows users to understand its purpose at a glance. To prevent users from feeling overwhelmed while working on action plans, actionable items are now organized into clickable tiles. By using pop-ups for each tile, the design creates an experience where users don’t feel pressured to complete everything on one screen. Ultimately, this solution preserves the core features that users wanted and needed but delivers them in a more efficient and user-friendly design.

HR software needs to be more than just a tool offering basic HR features. It should be exceptional, aiming to significantly improve employee engagement, business performance, and employee well-being. For this to happen, companies must utilize such software to foster a sense of belonging among their employees.


Sense of Belonging


Belonging is an employee’s sense that their uniqueness is accepted and even treasured by their organization and colleagues. To instill a sense of belonging among employees, companies must be able to provide the following elements: 1. Transparency, ensuring equal access to information for all; 2. Recognition of accomplishments; 3. A warm welcome for new employees; and 4. Acceptance and appreciation of individuals as whole persons. Literature underscores the importance of cultivating a culture of recognition. Such an environment aids in fostering a sense of community and reinforces the notion that every contribution is valuable.

HR software needs to be more than just a tool offering basic HR features. It should be exceptional, aiming to significantly improve employee engagement, business performance, and employee well-being. For this to happen, companies must utilize such software to foster a sense of belonging among their employees.


Sense of Belonging


Belonging is an employee’s sense that their uniqueness is accepted and even treasured by their organization and colleagues. To instill a sense of belonging among employees, companies must be able to provide the following elements: 1. Transparency, ensuring equal access to information for all; 2. Recognition of accomplishments; 3. A warm welcome for new employees; and 4. Acceptance and appreciation of individuals as whole persons. Literature underscores the importance of cultivating a culture of recognition. Such an environment aids in fostering a sense of community and reinforces the notion that every contribution is valuable.

Key Metrics

128%

Increase in unique visitors

58%

Increase in total logins

27%

Inicrease in User Traffic of Training Apps

224%

Increase in Average Time Spent

conclusion

The Outcome

Leading the product design for this main dashboard renewal has been an invaluable learning experience. While the redesign was expected to improve user engagement and streamline task management, an unexpected yet rewarding outcome was the overwhelmingly positive feedback from clients who appreciated how the redesign fostered a more positive company atmosphere—going beyond just metrics and efficiency. This project reinforced the importance of balancing functionality with emotional design. Despite challenges—such as recognizing that user wants don’t always align with their actual needs—this journey has been both exciting and fulfilling, allowing me to elevate the user experience while fostering a more engaging workplace environment.

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