Time | 7 Months
Role | Visual Designer, Interaction Designer, Researcher, Product Designer, UX Generalist
Team | CEO, CTO, Content Strategist, Professional Learning Coach (PLC)
Revolutionizing Coaching with a Slack-Integrated Chatbot at Highliner
“People don’t leave bad companies, people leave bad managers.”
Background
Highliner Technology, a UK based startup, sought to transform manager coaching by leveraging a personalized chatbot delivering tailored coaching tips through Slack. The aim was to enhance manager performance conveniently and effectively.
Problem
Despite the significance of manager training, many small businesses overlook it due to financial constraints. Highliner aimed to bridge this gap by offering accessible and affordable coaching specifically targeting mid-level managers.
Target Audience
Focused on mid-level managers, Highliner aimed to democratize coaching, often reserved for higher echelons, making it scalable and accessible.
Roles and Responsibilities
As the lead product designer, my multifaceted role included visual design, UX design, research, and development. Guiding the product strategy, I collaborated with cross-functional teams to prioritize design challenges and align them with business objectives.
Scope and Challenges
Working from the CEO's vision, I helped define the MVP and navigate feature requests, ensuring a clear path toward the initial product launch. Managing a project with ambiguous boundaries and minimal constraints demanded effective communication and documentation for consistent progress.
Design Process
Initiating with a revamped investor pitch deck, I revamped Highliner's visual identity, including logos and recruitment materials. Collaborating with the CEO and content strategist, we solidified the brand identity, creating a comprehensive style guide.
Product Development
Conducting a comparative analysis of chatbots and collaborating closely with stakeholders, we delineated the MVP scope, setting achievable milestones. Leveraging project trackers like Trello, we prioritized tasks and documented assumptions, methodologies, and outcomes guiding the development phase.
Chatbot Development
Developing chatbot scripts and leveraging dialogue tree structures, I worked with the PLC and content strategist to craft extensive coaching interactions. While initiating with Dialog Flow, I transitioned to a more suitable platform for easier non-technical usage, aligning with our MVP objectives.
Prototype and Testing
Integrating the bot with Slack, a pivotal MVP requirement, facilitated seamless interaction. Beta testing with a London startup involved selected managers engaging in an 8-week trial, yielding valuable user feedback and bug identification, promptly addressed for a seamless experience.
Outcome and Achievements
Despite minor launch hiccups, positive feedback and a trial extension highlighted the bot's efficacy. As Highliner pivoted focus to local expansion, I transitioned bot development to the CTO, ensuring a smooth handoff of resources and documentation.
This project honed my remote project management skills and reinforced the significance of an MVP mindset. Over seven months, I contributed to shaping the product's vision, development, and successful launch, amplifying coaching accessibility for mid-level managers.