Role and Impact

With the King County Department of Human Services (DCHS) handling an expansive range of responsibilities and operations, I designed an onboarding tool to efficiently orient newcomers to the department. Initially meant to be an infographic, I recognized a need for a more interactive approach. I innovated the concept, ensuring it met the primary goal: effectively explaining the structure and function of DCHS to various stakeholders.

Deliverables

• Transitioned the project from a static infographic to an interactive e-learning format, enhancing user engagement and knowledge retention.

• Produced two versions of the tool: one for community partners or elected officials and another for new staff, featuring HR integrations.

• Designed a user-friendly interface with “choose your own adventure” navigation, offering three separate learning tracks to cater to various needs and interests.

• Integrated interactive elements, animations, and in-app videos make learning more dynamic and engaging.

• Included links to resources, in-depth information, and popup data, ensuring users have access to comprehensive DCHS information.

Communications

• Introduced the onboarding tool in strategic leadership meetings to obtain necessary buy-in and approval.

• Coordinated with the HR department to embed the tool into the standard induction process for new employees.

• Conducted targeted outreach to community partners and elected officials, leveraging this tool as a comprehensive introduction to DCHS.

• Designed a feedback mechanism to measure the tool’s effectiveness and inform future refinements.

Discover More

Due to the nature of this project, it’s primarily an internal tool. If available, public access details will be shared in the future.

Reflection: “Developing the DCHS 101 Interactive Onboarding Tool was a challenging yet rewarding experience. By pivoting the project from a simple infographic to an interactive e-learning tool, I significantly improved the onboarding process for a diverse set of stakeholders, including new staff, community partners, and elected officials. This innovative approach to onboarding ensures that individuals new to DCHS have a thorough and engaging introduction to the department’s role and operations. The tool has facilitated internal communication and created a standardized understanding of the department, which benefits DCHS’s overall efficiency and cohesion.”