Welcome to
the Office.
DURATION
16 Weeks, Fall 2020
SKILLS
Leadership
Print Design
UI/UX
Illustration
Typography
Remote Collaboration
OVERVIEW
In a team, students were directed to work together to create an educational experience through print media and a companion digital interaction that explores a concept of design ethics.
WHAT DID I DO?
In this group project, I established all visual and typographical styles for the handbook and interactive component. I took the lead on team discussions and the determination of content included in our book. I also wrote the opening and closing letters to the reader to communicate our goals and intentions while making this resource.
Welcome to the Office is a guide to becoming a better coworker.
This handbook focuses on making each and every employee aware of issues within their own interpersonal relationships and proactive in the social and professional culture of the office. In order to instill a positive, creative, and safe work environment, we encourage everyone to practice kindness and respect.
The Problem
New jobs and opportunities can be scary and intimidating. How can we help new employees feel more prepared and optimistic about participating in workplace culture?
The Solution
Create a user manual for new employees to have as a resource that discusses important issues, such as gender discrimination and microaggressions. This handbook will explain what they mean, why they happen, how we can identify them in the workplace, and how to resolve conflict.
01
02
03
Goals
Educate.
Educate readers about these social dilemmas, how we can identify them, why they occur, and how to resolve them.
Give users a resource.
Create a resource for new hires to learn from as well as refer to when they need a bit of extra information on a specific conflict.
Create a positive work environment.
Instill positive energy in the workplace environment by making these issues a part of the conversation for all to contribute to.
Content Development
To give readers the best understanding of each issue, we decided to research our chosen topics and clearly explain them in writing through these 5 sections.
Social Dilemmas.
Working in today’s day and age, we encounter social and cultural conflicts that are both personal and serious. Oftentimes, we avoid having conversations about these issues and sweep their occurrences under the rug because they are too intimate and too real. It’s about time to bring these problems to the surface and handle them in a mature, respectful manner.
Scenarios.
To be able to see a social conflict affecting another person can majorly help us to see how these issues may play a role in our own lives. Talking about these examples and learning about what may have caused these hurtful actions can clarify any cloudiness one may feel about the subject matter.
Do's & Don'ts.
Listing clearly and simply what readers should and should not do in these circumstances will remind them about what truly matters to resolve their problems. These points will help to keep users’ heads level and calm.
Conflict Resolution.
Providing tips for conflict resolution will help readers to see that their problems can be resolved. These numbered steps explain how to approach issues that arise and who to go to in order to settle them.
Psychology.
Understanding the origins of these dilemmas will help readers to gain more insight into why they might reveal themselves in the workplace. Knowing why people may think in different ways can play a large role in overcoming conflict.
My Concepts
Gender Discrimination & Infantilization
The research for my writing consists of many sources. Having a minor in psychology came in handy as we are examining interpersonal relationships and conflicts. I chose to use my readings from classes I have taken in the past, Social Psychology and Psychology of Women & Gender, to aid my written content. In addition, I spoke with Dr. Eleanor Chand-Matzke at RIT to discuss my topics in even more depth and detail.
Print Experience
Our print experience is a place for our users to come to get an overall understanding of each topic. In each spread, users can learn, reflect, and relate. These topics call for more than just a lecture on its contents, that's why having it as a go-to resource with explanatory and relatable information is so important.
Interactive Experience
As our handbook is a great source of information for new employees to refer to, we chose to keep the educational interactive experience very simple. This way, readers will be able to read the content we discuss in a fluid, natural way.
Visual Design
The overall design of this handbook was inspired by editorial magazine design and layouts. I wanted to present our massive amount of information to the user in an approachable and comfortable way. By generating a consistent grid, typographical hierarchy, and color scheme, I gave myself and my teammates the freedom to create unique spreads that all relate to each other through rhyme, as opposed to identicality.
Mood Board
This hand-collaged mood board takes inspiration from hand-drawn illustrations and silkscreen printing. Thin lines complement the thicks and thins of serif typefaces and color will add character to each illustration.
Style Board
I took inspiration from classic editorial print media and how magazine designers lay out their text and visual content. In my style board, I explored how I could achieve a style that gracefully combines serif and sans-serif typefaces and unites each page together through rhyme, as opposed to identical spreads.
Typography
In order to establish an editorial-like visual feel, I wanted to achieve a typographical style that combines serif and sans serif typefaces. My goal was to give my team members flexibility in typestyles and arrangement all while keeping a consistent hierarchy throughout all spreads in the handbook.
Reflection
Looking back, this project was definitely a demanding and challenging experience. Coronavirus sucks and it is brutal to be a student, especially a senior, in the midst of a deadly global pandemic. On the bright side, my team worked together to produce a real book that is available for purchase here.
Despite facing this huge challenge, this project taught me more than I could imagine. We are all going through a hard time, but to be able to create a book that promotes positivity, kindness, and respect helps to shine a light on this dark moment in time. I believe this project made me stronger both as a designer and a person.
Completing a semester-long project over Zoom and Figma was a great lesson in communication and collaboration. It was an exercise in patience, as well as creativity. This project allowed me to try something new as well as utilize my existing skills. It majorly helped me to get a clear understanding of print design and print processes. This project opened my eyes to new ways to combine my love of 2D design, print media, and interactive design.
say hello!
© 2022 hannah grace sarakin
