Connecting a Global Workforce Through Stories
Overview
I led design and development for a lightweight internal platform that helped a global workforce share stories and stay connected. With employees split between urban offices and remote worksites, the goal was to reduce isolation and create a space where people could celebrate local efforts while staying linked to the wider organisation.
Process
Over three months, I worked closely with stakeholders and users to understand accessibility needs, prototype rapidly, and design a simple, performance-optimised interface. Testing across low-bandwidth and mobile environments ensured the platform worked for everyone, no matter their location or connectivity.
Outcome
The platform launched successfully and saw strong engagement at a small scale. Employees used it to share videos, images, and stories across regions - strengthening connection and cultural visibility in ways traditional channels couldn't.
Designing for Connection, Not Just Content
This wasn't a marketing tool - it was a community platform. Employees in city offices had stable internet and regular updates, but many others worked on remote industrial sites with limited connectivity and little visibility into the rest of the organisation.
We wanted to create something approachable, intuitive, and meaningful. Something that could support pride in local projects while helping people feel part of something larger.
Performance Where It Matters Most
Designing for remote sites meant performance wasn't optional - it was critical. I kept the interface lightweight and designed for variable network conditions, ensuring uploads, image loading, and feed rendering worked on slower connections and older devices.
The frontend was built to prioritise accessibility and speed. Every design decision from modal behaviour to image handling was stress-tested in real-world environments.
Performance optimisation was a cornerstone of the design, ensuring the platform worked smoothly even in low-bandwidth environments
Two Audiences, One Shared Space
Early research revealed two distinct personas:
- Office workers with access to fast internet, modern devices, and familiarity with digital tools
- Remote site workers who often relied on shared devices or basic phones, sometimes with little exposure to internal platforms
Designing for both meant finding the balance between visual richness and functional clarity. The interface had to be friendly, reliable, and inviting - without overwhelming users unfamiliar with tech.
Iteration in Real Time
Working as the sole designer and engineer along a product manager, meant I could prototype directly in code, test quickly, and respond to feedback without handoffs.
One issue came up late: the mobile modal wasn't working properly on older Android devices. I was able to debug and fix the issue in staging without disrupting the timeline - an example of how being hands-on across design and delivery helped us stay nimble.
A Simple Tool That Made a Real Difference
The final platform allowed employees to upload stories, pictures, and short videos. Localised feeds let regions highlight their own work, while offering a window into the wider organisation's activities.
It wasn't flashy. But it was real. And it worked
This project wasn't just about creating a website - it was about building a shared space where employees felt connected, celebrated, and inspired.
Reflections
This project reminded me that thoughtful, accessible design doesn't always mean complexity - it means empathy. By staying close to users, prototyping quickly, and listening throughout, we delivered something small in scope but big in impact.
A lightweight platform, built with care, that helped people feel seen.