PROJECT
Racial equity learning experience for google employees
Build a centralised learning experience for internal employees of google to engage with the topic of racial equity. The experience aims to lead employees of google along their learning journey and evolve them around racial equity at Google.
As an Art director for the project, I was responsible to lead and execute the design vision of the experience with the team of creative director, visual designers & UX researcher.
THE CHALLENGE
Deliver an engaging experience, relatable to a diverse audience
Journey to racial equity varies both demographically & geographically. Every person’s understanding and engagement with concepts of racial equity and DE&I is different and based on their own experiences. Our biggest challenge was to make users believe that the content will be relative and relatable to their experience. Regardless of where a Googler is logging in from, or what their background, the learning experience should be actionable and informative.
Another challenge we had to overcome was to keep our audience engaged during their learning journey that would revolve around embracing learner agency and promoting empathy.
DISCOVERY PROCESS
01. User Journey & Engagement
Basis the level of engagement of our audience on topics related to racial equity & DE&I, we segregated them in four categories along a sliding scale.
The user flow was created basis experience of the user at their own level of self awareness (y-axis) and empathy (x-axis). As self awareness increases, so will the opportunity for a greater capacity for empathy through the journey of the program (the squares on the x-axis). This approach will lead to greater possibilities for unique and deeply personal action steps and outcomes.
The content flow was laid out to provide Googlers with an empathetic way to navigate facing and understanding racial equity. User flow seeks to be non linear, with anchoring elements that frame and support the unlearning of societal norms through various lenses.
This information flow below describes how the content begins to map to the site architecture and a high level understanding on how the user navigates through the site when landing on the platform for the first time.
02. Ideation
Benchmarking to help anchor the user experience
Benchmarking, a process used for comparing industry-best examples, is an extremely valuable tool for ideation where inspirational content is gathered for the purpose of generating new ideas.
Our 4 experience design pillars below helped anchor our user experience and provided guideposts as we moved forward into design –
- Guided but exploratory
- Spark curiosity and motivation
- Inclusive by design
- Individual / human stories first
Stylescapes for holistic design system
Stylescapes are a carefully collected combination of images, textures, typography, and colors that communicate the look and feel of the user experience.
Stylescapes were created to layout a comprehensive snapshot of a holistic design system and help us identify overall visual direction.
03. Wireframes
The wireframes are representation of a first time user experience and to showcase the underlying structure of the experience. They aim to capture the core flow for a user and start to articulate the major curriculum and page components, features, and functionality for the core racial equity web platform.
Voice activated affirmations
Passively challenge users to begin using their voice, while also differentiating this site from other work they might be doing. This sets the tone for an interactive experience.
The Power Wheel
This tool will help users align with where they are in their personal understanding and self determined emotional capacity around racial equity.
Witness
Limiting what is displayed on screen, would encourage meaningful listening while illuminating bias. We seek to center the voices and stories of people of color.
Enrich
This section is the educational and intellectual facts to support and understand the topics from the Witness sharing.
Stretch
Centred around the mnemonic, this tool will encourage users to stretch, when the material gets dense, or after a lengthy period of time in session.
Unpack
The companion is centered in this section. This should feel light and conversational. We use the methods of drawing, speaking and writing to provide users an opportunity to reflect on all they have learned/experienced.
OUR SOLUTION
A narrative-based immersive experience, guided by a mnemonic
Our journey for Racial Equity starts from within, so the aim was to create a supportive space, where learning is achieved through understanding and filled with meaningful exploration. Through narrative-based engagement, and a library of resources, this immersive experience will empower Googlers around the world to grow, act, practice allyship, and ultimately leave their mark, as we strive for equity.
Adding a human element via a Mnemonic guide
We centred the user experience around a mnemonic device to symbolize a representation of racial equity experience and provide a human element to the e-learning journey that will give users a sense of companionship and guidance. Tangible, ownable, and memorable.
It’s an inspiring benchmark as its dynamic and intelligent construct engages daily with the users, compelling them to spend time with this digital object that teases the brain.
A mindful companion
One way to help users feel supported and comforted at every stage of their learning journey, is to introduce a digital companion, which can act as a guide, mentor, and friend. This will help ensure that the overall experience feels less daunting and siloed.
Tracking and encouraging progress
The learning companion will issue encouragement at critical stages for the user and will act as a progress tracker to help center users on their journey so they can understand the milestones to come.
Leaving your mark
By the end of each user’s learning journey, they will be issued a distinct mark of completion, based on their specific path and inputs. This helps affirm the globally diverse, yet deeply individualized nature of the experience.
