Miami University Human Resources Designs
How I use my design expertise to improve the human resources workplace
What Do I Make?
Flyers
This Student Employee OPERS Retirement flyer became my first experience with design for Human Resources. My coworker sent me all the information, and I arranged it from a Google Doc so that the information could be quickly navigated.
Employee Instructions
I made a lot of instructions that could be sent to employees if they contact Human Resources for help. Those who send out these instructions have reported that these instructions are received very well and are effectively helpful.
Internal Reference Tools
I also made reference tools, whether they’re instructions for my fellow coworkers in Human Resources or tools that helped me do my job better, like this resource I made for covering phones at the front desk.
How has this helped me grow as a designer?
Interaction with non-designers
In order to make these instructions and flyers, I take the expertise of my non-designer coworkers and understand it enough to be able to communicate it to an often broad audience. Additionally, in order to get to this place where I can make these designs, I have to communicate the importance of design to non-designers.
Working with my co-workers in HR has been such a wonderful experience. It helped me find a love and passion for talking to non-designers. I love hearing about other people’s areas of expertise and finding how my skills as a designer can enhance their professional experience. If my skillset can make their jobs easier, then I want to do just that!
Introduction to information design
Prior to this job, my design experience predominantly happened in the classroom. This usually manifested in UX/UI and web design deliverables, or the occasional poster. This experience introduced me to the wonderful world of information design, where I got to work with information and focus on effective and optimized communication towards my target audience.
Taking initiative
Not all of the instructions I’ve made have been upon request. Oftentimes, if I see an area in Human Resources that can benefit from a reference tool, I’ll make it without being prompted. Human Resources has taught me how to allocate my time and use it effectively; there is no greater satisfaction than being asked to make instructions and me already having them ready to use.
Exploring space, layout, and language
Something I’ve played a lot with in making these instructions is space. For personal use, I like to make sure every square inch of a page is optimized ad loaded with information. However, for the sake of my target audience, I use space effectively, keeping it to about 2-4 steps per page and including lots of images and visuals rather than overwhelming a page with information.
Another skill I use is language. When I make instructions, I use clear language that is succinct, yet informative. I make sure my language is professional, usable, accessible, pleasant, and readable. Good spelling, punctuation, capitalization and syntax are also important.
Get To Know Me Through My Work
Insight & Reflection:
I am a Motivated Executor
I will always treasure my time working as a student assistant for Miami University’s Human Resources Department because I got to experience showing the value of design to non-designers. I found opportunities to use design thinking to make things easier, and used my designer skillset to create job aids and flyers that then decreased the number of confused emails and phone calls to the department.
I love being able to make the lives of others easier with my designs, and I hope to continue to make a positive impact wherever I’m at. Having seen such impact at this previous job, it motivates me to find design solutions even when not called upon to do so, and to go above and beyond where I can.