Patches
Patches is a product used to award, recognize, and engage employees in a novel way. Corporate offices are often cluttered with 'swag' that, more often than not, gets left behind and discarded at the end of the year. We developed a product that would endure for years while prioritizing sustainability. Patches celebrate values, culture, and creativity.
Project Brief
Role: Product Designer
Platform: Web
Tools: Figma, Adobe Illustrator
Project duration: 4 Weeks
Problem
During the COVID-19 pandemic, employee engagement declined, and we were tasked with developing a digital solution.
“How can we engage employees in a meaningful way when everyone is working from home?”
“Genentech Gives Back week has never happened virutally before, is there a way to incentivize employees to participate in virtual activities?”
Research
I researched other popular awarding and recognition systems, most of which came from games or websites that I have already interacted with as other employee intranets aren’t accessible. Although, I have heard from friends that Google has something similar.
GitHub has a collection of badges that users can receive, so does the Peloton App.
Approach
We built Patches as a site on our WordPress intranet platform. In the backend, users can create a patch detail page, and from that page, award employees the patch. Automatic email notifications are sent daily at 10 AM (PST) to employees who have earned a new patch. Employees collect all of the patches they earn on their employee profile. Additionally, employees can see all patches available at Genentech on a Patches homepage.
To open up Patches to the entire company, we created a form for those who were interested in creating a patch for their team. After employees fill out the form, our team helps design, iterate, and award the patch. To maintain the integrity and substance of the patch ecosystem, we ensure that not just anyone can create and award patches.
Output
The Patches system has successfully increased employee engagement and recognition across Genentech. It offers a sustainable, digital alternative to traditional corporate swag, fostering a culture of appreciation and creativity. The system is widely used for a variety of events and initiatives, including virtual participation in Genentech Gives Back Week. Patches not only serve as a means of recognition but also as a motivator for employees to engage with company values and activities.
Outcome
Since the product's launch in June 2021, more than 200 patches have been created across the enterprise, and over 25,000 unique recipients have been awarded a patch.
Patch Design
Since the launch of Patches, I have designed patches for various departments throughout the company, ranging from Live Well Week to employee anniversaries. Each patch introduces a unique style to its respective program.
Patches Index Page
Patch Detail Page
Employee Profile Patch Preview
Employee Profile Patch Gallery
All screens were optimized for mobile, tablet & desktop.
