Key Lime Interactive
Role
UX Researcher
Team
Stella Lim, Ben Habegger, Sowmyashree
Bharathan, Daphnee Delisha, Damaris Adenji
Duration
Aug - Dec 2023
Tools
Figma
Miro
Brief
Fostering remote connection to enhance the KLI employee experience.
Designed a solution to improve the Key Lime employee experience by fostering connectivity among remote workers.
My Contribution
I co-led a workshop with Key Lime Interactive's C-Suite, conducted employee interviews to assess remote connectivity, and led the research synthesis process through affinity diagramming, competitive analysis, and user journey mapping. Based on the insights, I developed a mid-fidelity design focused on enhancing remote employee connections.
Problem
KLI lacks tools that foster connection and community as current platforms prioritize productivity over engagement.
Goal
Create a solution that helps KLI's remote employees strengthen connection and build a stronger sense of community.
Research
Exploring remote work trends to strengthen connection and community.
Peer reviewed articles were reviewed to understand how remote work affects productivity, satisfaction, and well-being. Statistical analysis then revealed key trends and patterns shaping remote work experiences.
Findings
Building Community and Trust
Creating a community fosters trust and effective communication among team members.
Welcoming and Setting Expectations
Welcoming new employees early and setting expectations fosters a positive remote work experience.
Feedback Opportunities
Providing frequent feedback opportunities enhances continuous improvement.
Opening Up for Communication
Discussion boards, email, and other outlets help remote workers voice concerns.
Non-work Interactions
Setting aside some time for non-work related helps employees build personal connections.
Tools
Utilizing a range of communication tools is essential for effective remote collaboration.
User Interviews
Understanding employee needs and connection challenges at KLI.
Conducted 8+ interviews with Key Lime employees to gain insights into the current state of remote connection among their employees. Additionally, we wanted to identify the specific user requirements of KLI workers to look in-depth into the software and services they are currently using and pinpoint any challenges they are facing when establishing connections with their colleagues.
Below is a sample of a question that was asked in the screener.
Analysis
Affinity Diagramming
Identifying core themes to shape effective connection solutions.
After the interviews, affinity diagramming was used to synthesize responses and surface patterns.
Findings
Employees experience forced connection of Key Lime events.
Employees feel a sense of isolation in the remote work environment.
Importance of organic connections with minimal effort.
Prioritization Matrix
Identifying core themes to shape effective connection solutions.
Crafted "How Might We" questions to turn challenges into opportunities, then used a prioritization matrix to assess and rank solutions. Based on feasibility and value, the focus narrowed to high-impact ideas that balance impact with moderate effort.
HMW Questions
• How might we mirror in-person (hallway) experiences to the digital space?
• How might we take the effort away from the individual, and still organically produce connection?
• How might we make new employees feel welcome in a remote environment?
User Journey
Navigating connection and isolation in remote work.
After analyzing user interviews, a user journey was created to illustrate key insights. Built around a representative Key Lime employee persona, Kayla, it highlights key quotes, emotions, and touchpoints to clearly capture the remote work experience.
Findings
Overall engagement and interaction is low throughout the work day.
Low points tend to fall during client meetings and solo work.
Work events like Pre-Happy hour are poorly timed and often fall when employees are just trying to go home.
C-suite
Workshop
Collaborative workshop with KLI leadership.
A workshop with Key Lime Interactive C-suite gathered leadership perspective, created a space for idea generation, and aligned on a clear plan moving forward.
Participants: chiefs, chairs, and/or directors at KLI (4 participants) | Time: 1 Hour
Prototyping
How might we mirror in-person experiences to the digital space?
Features
Calendar Integration
The ability to integrate calendars into screens.
Activity Room / Collaboration Room
A designated space for collaborative activities.
QOTD (Question of the Day)
A daily question for user engagement.
Notification Stream linking to Google Workspace
A stream of notifications connected to Google Workspace for seamless communication.
Usability Testing
Evaluating intuitive navigation and task completion.
To understand how remote employees respond to the concept, three participants tested the prototype and shared feedback. The chart below combines ratings, quotes, and desire for connection to show a range of perspectives.
Final Solution
Fostering connection by bringing in-person experiences to Key Lime's remote teams.
Created shared digital spaces within Key Lime's Google Workspace ecosystem that seamlessly bridged in-person and digital communication, fostering antural opportunities for employees to connect and collaborate.
Cample
Key Lim Interactive
Role
Product Designer
UX Researcher
Team
Stella Lim
Ben Habegger
Sowmyashree Bharathan
Daphnee Delisha
Damaris Adenji
Duration
April 2024 - July 2025
Aug - Dec 2023
Tools
Figma
Figma
Miro
Brief
Campus marketplace and social hub for college students.
Fostering remote connection to enhance the KLI employee experience.
Cample is a campus app that helps college students buy and sell second-hand items and connect with others. Students can find great deals, share activities, and organize group events that bring the campus community closer together.
Designed a solution to improve the Key Lime employee experience by fostering connectivity among remote workers.
My Contribution
I joined midway to polish the product into a refined experience.
I joined midway to transform the existing UI into a high-fidelity design. My role involved conducting competitive analysis, iterating on designs, running usability and A/B tests, refining the interface based on feedback, and creating design system. I worked closely with front- and back-end developers to ensure smooth handoff and implementation.
I co-led a workshop with Key Lime Interactive's C-Suite, conducted employee interviews to assess remote connectivity, and led the research synthesis process through affinity diagramming, competitive analysis, and user journey mapping. Based on the insights, I developed a mid-fidelity design focused on enhancing remote employee connections.
Problem
The product lacked a design system, leading to inconsistent touchpoints that disrupted users' mental models.
KLI lacks tools that foster connection and community as current platforms prioritize productivity over engagement.
Goal
Create a cohesive design system and a consistent high-fidelity interface that improves clarity across key flows.
Create a solution that helps KLI's remote employees strengthen connection and build a stronger sense of community.
Usability Testing
Research
Observed users navigate the current design to uncover friction.
Exploring remote work trends to strengthen connection and community.
To better understand how the existing design worked in real use, I started with usability testing with 4 users across Marketplace, Flash, Agora, and Chat. I observed how they completed key tasks to uncover pain points, gather feedback, and prioritize UI improvements for the redesign.
Peer reviewed articles were reviewed to understand how remote work affects productivity, satisfaction, and well-being. Statistical analysis then revealed key trends and patterns shaping remote work experiences.
Findings
Marketplace
User #1
"The term 'open box' is more suitable than 'almost new' when describing item condition in a marketplace."
"Some flows in marketplace feel incomplete and there's noticeable inconsistency in spacing and layout."
User #2
User #3
"Showing seller ratings and past sales could build trust."
Flash
User #1
"The flash layout feels overwhelming with too much text. Simplifying it would make navigation easier."
"The join button is easy to overlook ad the CTA can be misleading, making it unclear."
User #4
Agora
User #3
"The post creation page feels unorganized and unclear, making it harder to use."
"The design lacks differentiation and layout feels too similar to Flash, making Agora seem redundant."
User #2
Findings
Building Community and Trust
Creating a community fosters trust and effective communication among team members.
Welcoming and Setting Expectations
Welcoming new employees early and setting expectations fosters a positive remote work experience.
Feedback Opportunities
Providing frequent feedback opportunities enhances continuous improvement.
Opening Up for Communication
Discussion boards, email, and other outlets help remote workers voice concerns.
Non-work Interactions
Setting aside some time for non-work related helps employees build personal connections.
Tools
Utilizing a range of communication tools is essential for effective remote collaboration.
Research
User Interviews
Clear navigation and CTAs were the biggest gaps to fix.
Understanding employee needs and connection challenges at KLI.
To shape a clearer and more consistent experience, I analyzed 4 second-hand marketplace (Karrot, OfferUp, Poshmark, Mercari) and 2 community platforms
(ZeeMee, Yee Yak) to find ways to improve usability and engagement.
Conducted 8+ interviews with Key Lime employees to gain insights into the current state of remote connection among their employees. Additionally, we wanted to identify the specific user requirements of KLI workers to look in-depth into the software and services they are currently using and pinpoint any challenges they are facing when establishing connections with their colleagues.
I framed the research around two main questions:
Below is a sample of a question that was asked in the screener.
How do leading apps structure navigation to align with user mental models?
How can we improve the design with features that better support user needs?
Key Insights
Based on findings from the competitive analysis, I identified key opportunities to improve Cample's design.
Smart Filters
Let users filter by price range and item condition to support more intentional browsing.
Product Transparency
Show view counts and contact stats to increase transparency and user confidence.
Community Bridge
Add Flash banners in marketplace to guide users naturally between shopping and community events.
Clear Navigation
Redesign the navigation to match users' natural browsing flow, reducing friction.
Ideation
Analysis
Sketched design concepts based on user and research insights.
Affinity Diagramming
Sketched design concepts based on user and research insights.
Identifying core themes to shape effective connection solutions.
Identifying core themes to shape effective connection solutions.
Affinity Diagramming
Identifying core themes to shape effective connection solutions.
Using insights from usability testing and competitive analysis, I sketched multiple design directions to address key pain points in the existing experience. The focus was clearer layouts, stronger visual hierarchy, and smoother navigation across Marketplace, Flash, and Agora to better match user needs and expectations.
After the interviews, affinity diagramming was used to synthesize responses and surface patterns.
After the interviews, affinity diagramming was used to synthesize responses and surface patterns.
Identifying core themes to shape effective connection solutions.
Findings
After the interviews, affinity diagramming was used to synthesize responses and surface patterns.
Employees experience forced connection of Key Lime events.
Employees feel a sense of isolation in the remote work environment.
Importance of organic connections with minimal effort.
Affinity Diagramming
Prioritization Matrix
Identifying core themes to shape effective connection solutions.
After the interviews, affinity diagramming was used to synthesize responses and surface patterns.
After the interviews, affinity diagramming was used to synthesize responses and surface patterns.
After the interviews, affinity diagramming was used to synthesize responses and surface patterns.
After the interviews, affinity diagramming was used to synthesize responses and surface patterns.
After the interviews, affinity diagramming was used to synthesize responses and surface patterns.
Crafted "How Might We" questions to turn challenges into opportunities, then used a prioritization matrix to assess and rank solutions. Based on feasibility and value, the focus narrowed to high-impact ideas that balance impact with moderate effort.
HMW Questions
• How might we mirror in-person (hallway) experiences to the digital space?
• How might we take the effort away from the individual, and still organically produce connection?
• How might we make new employees feel welcome in a remote environment?
Affinity Diagramming
Identifying core themes to shape effective connection solutions.
Design Refinement
C-suite Workshop
Refined flows to align touchpoints into a cohesive experience.
Collaborative workshop with KLI leadership.
Building on sketches, I refined the designs in Figma by fixing incomplete flows, layout inconsistencies, and missing touchpoints. At the same time, I created a design system to keep UI patterns consistent and make the overall experience feel more cohesive and usable.
A workshop with Key Lime Interactive C-suite gathered leadership perspective, created a space for idea generation, and aligned on a clear plan moving forward.
A workshop with Key Lime Interactive C-suite gathered leadership perspective, created a space for idea generation, and aligned on a clear plan moving forward.
Participants: chiefs, chairs, and/or directors at KLI (4 participants) | Time: 1 Hour
After analyzing user interviews, a user journey was created to illustrate key insights. Built around a representative Key Lime employee persona, Kayla, it highlights key quotes, emotions, and touchpoints to clearly capture the remote work experience.
After analyzing user interviews, a user journey was created to illustrate key insights. Built around a representative Key Lime employee persona, Kayla, it highlights key quotes, emotions, and touchpoints to clearly capture the remote work experience.
Findings
User Journey
Navigating connection and isolation in remote work.
After analyzing user interviews, a user journey was created to illustrate key insights. Built around a representative Key Lime employee persona, Kayla, it highlights key quotes, emotions, and touchpoints to clearly capture the remote work experience.
Overall engagement and interaction is low throughout the work day.
Low points tend to fall during client meetings and solo work.
Work events like Pre-Happy hour are poorly timed and often fall when employees are just trying to go home.
Findings
Findings
After analyzing user interviews, a user journey was created to illustrate key insights. Built around a representative Key Lime employee persona, Kayla, it highlights key quotes, emotions, and touchpoints to clearly capture the remote work experience.
Design System
Navigating connection and isolation in remote work.
Flash
An events section to post and discover campus activities, RSVP, and join a group chat with other attendees.
Before
After
Final Product
Marketplace
A campus marketplace for buying and selling secondhand items, with chat to arrange meetups and listing activity like views and buyer chat count.
Before
After
Agora
A student forum for questions and updates, with daily polls to share quick opinions.
Before
After
Reflection
What I learned.
Growing as a Designer
Cample was my first year-long project outside of class and it taught me to adapt quickly, learn fast, and collaborate in an interdisciplinary team. I honed my figma skills, building interactive flows, and keeping files organized for developer handoff.
Communicating with Developers
Working with developers taught me how important clear and open communication was. I learned how to explain my design decisions, adapt when certain ideas weren't feasible, and stay aligned throughout the implementation process.
Importance of a Design System
The initial designs lacked consistency and direction. Without a structured system, collaboration felt messy and revisions were hard to mange. Introducing a unified system brought clarity to our workflow, created a consistent visual language, and made developer handoffs much efficient.
Jump to final design
Affinity Diagramming
Identifying core themes to shape effective connection solutions.
Research
Prototyping
Exploring remote work trends to strengthen connection and community.
How might we mirror in-person experiences to the digital space?
Peer reviewed articles were reviewed to understand how remote work affects productivity, satisfaction, and well-being. Statistical analysis then revealed key trends and patterns shaping remote work experiences.
Findings
Features
Building Community and Trust
Creating a community fosters trust and effective communication among team members.
Welcoming and Setting Expectations
Welcoming new employees early and setting expectations fosters a positive remote work experience.
Feedback Opportunities
Providing frequent feedback opportunities enhances continuous improvement.
Opening Up for Communication
Discussion boards, email, and other outlets help remote workers voice concerns.
Non-work Interactions
Setting aside some time for non-work related helps employees build personal connections.
Tools
Utilizing a range of communication tools is essential for effective remote collaboration.
Calendar Integration
The ability to integrate calendars into screens.
Activity Room / Collaboration Room
A designated space for collaborative activities.
QOTD (Question of the Day)
A daily question for user engagement.
Notification Stream linking to Google Workspace
A stream of notifications connected to Google Workspace for seamless communication.
User Journey
Usability Testing
Navigating connection and isolation in remote work.
Evaluating intuitive navigation and task completion.
After analyzing user interviews, a user journey was created to illustrate key insights. Built around a representative Key Lime employee persona, Kayla, it highlights key quotes, emotions, and touchpoints to clearly capture the remote work experience.
To understand how remote employees respond to the concept, three participants tested the prototype and shared feedback. The chart below combines ratings, quotes, and desire for connection to show a range of perspectives.
Overall engagement and interaction is low throughout the work day.
Low points tend to fall during client meetings and solo work.
Work events like Pre-Happy hour are poorly timed and often fall when employees are just trying to go home.
Findings
Usability Testing
Final Solution
Evaluating intuitive navigation and task completion.
Fostering connection by bringing in-person experiences to Key Lime's remote teams.
To understand how remote employees respond to the concept, three participants tested the prototype and shared feedback. The chart below combines ratings, quotes, and desire for connection to show a range of perspectives.
Created shared digital spaces within Key Lime's Google Workspace ecosystem that seamlessly bridged in-person and digital communication, fostering antural opportunities for employees to connect and collaborate.
Key Lime Interactive
Brief
Fostering remote connection to enhance the KLI employee experience.
Designed a solution to improve the Key Lime employee experience by fostering connectivity among remote workers.
My Contribution
I co-led a workshop with Key Lime Interactive's C-Suite, conducted employee interviews to assess remote connectivity, and led the research synthesis process through affinity diagramming, competitive analysis, and user journey mapping. Based on the insights, I developed a mid-fidelity design focused on enhancing remote employee connections.
Problem
KLI lacks tools that foster connection and community as current platforms prioritize productivity over engagement.
Goal
Create a solution that helps KLI's remote employees strengthen connection and build a stronger sense of community.
Research
Exploring remote work trends to strengthen connection and community.
Peer reviewed articles were reviewed to understand how remote work affects productivity, satisfaction, and well-being. Statistical analysis then revealed key trends and patterns shaping remote work experiences.
Findings
Building Community and Trust
Creating a community fosters trust and effective communication among team members.
Welcoming and Setting Expectations
Welcoming new employees early and setting expectations fosters a positive remote work experience.
Feedback Opportunities
Providing frequent feedback opportunities enhances continuous improvement.
Opening Up for Communication
Discussion boards, email, and other outlets help remote workers voice concerns.
Non-work Interactions
Setting aside some time for non-work related helps employees build personal connections.
Tools
Utilizing a range of communication tools is essential for effective remote collaboration.
User Interviews
Understanding employee needs and connection challenges at KLI.
Conducted 8+ interviews with Key Lime employees to gain insights into the current state of remote connection among their employees. Additionally, we wanted to identify the specific user requirements of KLI workers to look in-depth into the software and services they are currently using and pinpoint any challenges they are facing when establishing connections with their colleagues.
Below is a sample of a question that was asked in the screener.
Analysis
Affinity Diagramming
Identifying core themes to shape effective connection solutions.
After the interviews, affinity diagramming was used to synthesize responses and surface patterns.
Findings
Employees experience forced connection of Key Lime events.
Employees feel a sense of isolation in the remote work environment.
Importance of organic connections with minimal effort.
Prioritization Matrix
Identifying core themes to shape effective connection solutions.
Crafted "How Might We" questions to turn challenges into opportunities, then used a prioritization matrix to assess and rank solutions. Based on feasibility and value, the focus narrowed to high-impact ideas that balance impact with moderate effort.
Findings
Employees experience forced connection of Key Lime events.
Employees feel a sense of isolation in the remote work environment.
Importance of organic connections with minimal effort.
HMW Questions
• How might we mirror in-person (hallway) experiences to the digital space?
• How might we take the effort away from the individual, and still organically produce connection?
• How might we make new employees feel welcome in a remote environment?
User Journey
Navigating connection and isolation in remote work.
After analyzing user interviews, a user journey was created to illustrate key insights. Built around a representative Key Lime employee persona, Kayla, it highlights key quotes, emotions, and touchpoints to clearly capture the remote work experience.
Findings
Overall engagement and interaction is low throughout the work day.
Low points tend to fall during client meetings and solo work.
Work events like Pre-Happy hour are poorly timed and often fall when employees are just trying to go home.
Role
UX Researcher
Team
Stella Lim
Ben Habegger
Sowmyashree Bharathan
Daphnee Delisha
Damaris Adenji
Duration
Aug - Dec 2023
Tools
Figma
Miro
Jump to final design
C-suite Workshop
Collaborative workshop with KLI leadership.
A workshop with Key Lime Interactive C-suite gathered leadership perspective, created a space for idea generation, and aligned on a clear plan moving forward.
Participants: chiefs, chairs, and/or directors at KLI (4 participants)
Time: 1 Hour
Prototyping
How might we mirror in-person experiences to the digital space?
Features
Calendar Integration
The ability to integrate calendars into screens.
Activity Room / Collaboration Room
A designated space for collaborative activities.
QOTD (Question of the Day)
A daily question for user engagement.
Notification Stream linking to Google Workspace
A stream of notifications connected to Google Workspace for seamless communication.
Usability Testing
Evaluating intuitive navigation and task completion.
To understand how remote employees respond to the concept, three participants tested the prototype and shared feedback. The chart below combines ratings, quotes, and desire for connection to show a range of perspectives.
Final Solution
Fostering connection by bringing in-person experiences to Key Lime's remote teams.
Created shared digital spaces within Key Lime's Google Workspace ecosystem that seamlessly bridged in-person and digital communication, fostering antural opportunities for employees to connect and collaborate.