Internal Communications (Iron Galaxy & PerkSpot)
Iron Galaxy Studios
At Iron Galaxy, I adored the operations team. They accepted me as one of their own even though I just helped make their lives easier. Helping organize events and creating internal comms and presentations for company meetings, special communications, events, and one-off pieces. I also produced content to promote recruitment and the studio's values of diversity and inclusion. I would make sure to keep everything within official company branding. I would add my style to keep it fun and light so people would get a little reminder through things as simple as events or meeting messages, that they work at an amazing company.
Employee Spotlights
I've mentioned #MEETIRONGALAXY in another section of my Portfolio, but I wanted to bring it back up here. The blog was public but my main purpose of the section was to use it as an internal tool to raise transparency and employee advocacy. Hybrid offices are the norm, studios can be spread across the country, and building relationships with coworkers can use a little help sometimes. These interviews helped spotlight everyone at Iron Galaxy, from Operations to Creative Directors. It helped spark conversations at happy hours and on Teams and built an engaging environment where people felt seen and safe. Check out Maxwell from Operations interview below!
PerkSpot
I grew very close to the Senior Executive Assistant here. She taught me a lot about what I know about operations and how it works with communications. With our friendship, I was able to help build the transparencies behind internal messaging and culture at PerkSpot.
I organized monthly events, set up a DEI program, ran monthly employee spotlights, and launched a monthly mural (pictures below). My goal in all this was to help my coworker's morale and make life easier for all.
PerkSpot Internal Messaging
I turned the large chalk wall at the PerkSpot office into an announcement wall for internal communications, and an employee "SpotLite" section. This started in early 2019 and ran up to March 2020, and made a comeback in 2021, as you'll see below.
1. Monthly Themed wall that told a loose story themed around a special event myself and the rest of the cultural committee would plan out.
2. Watercooler effect trying to get people more involved in the company and shed some knowledge on employees.
Creative process
I used the wall for a couple of things; Announcements, Scheduled events, PerkSpot "Spotlite" on a specific employee, and a monthly Perk-related theme as the centerpiece.
1. The "SpotLite" section borrows its name from PerkSpot's former sister company. I'd send random questions to one employee and then have their pic and answers up on the wall for the month. Serves as an easy way to get to know more about your fellow coworker.
2. I reached out to management since I saw an opportunity to uplift my fellow employees through the "Spotlite" feature, tell a loose story based on perks, and have fun.
Final results
The wall went on hiatus during the pandemic but I brought it back in 2021. People enjoyed the wall and it would bring people together even if it was just a short stop to chat, exactly what I was going for. I even was able to get a couple of employees to participate and run the wall for a month. Below you'll find some shots over the months and a time-lapse of the very first wall I did, which was definitely not my best one.
2021
In 2021 I brought back the Chalk Wall since more people started coming back to the office. To roll it out again I went with a universal message I have strong feelings about and tied it in with our newly formed DEI committee that I co-founded. The message was tied into looking at Inclusivity as mattering as much as "Family Matters." I'm happy to help bring change to an industry in need of it.
(IJP) It's Just Perks
For February I came up with a fictional app for a Valentine's Day Perk. At the time we had a dating app on the site called (IJL) It's Just Lunch so I wanted to riff that sentiment as an app we'd be "releasing" in the distant future.
Haunted Perks
If you grew up in the greater Chicago area you knew about Haunted Trails in the far south/west burbs. I reworked their sign to be Haunted Perks. Just a fun little nostalgic one. I set up a haunted carnival event that went with the theme and also a horror film night with movie theater snacks.
Bike to Perks
I took our old company mascot "PerkSpot Bob" and changed him into a modern biker in the city of Chicago. Bob popped up a lot on the wall as a nod at our past but is updated to reflect our ever-changing future. This wall coincided with a Bike to Work challenge and event I ran that month.
Welcome Back (BLM)
This was supposed to be the wall to welcome people back from the pandemic and promote the importance of diversity and looking out for our fellow coworkers. I did this as my own little protest sign during the protests in 2020 and it was my way to help make it clear this office is 100% about inclusivity and diversity. Sentiments I bring in all I do in my work.
"Roll out the Barrel"
There were more murals, but for this event, I'll showcase my coworker's (EvanArt) art we raffled off at the event. In January 2020 I organized a mini carnival for our annual company party. I sourced third-party magicians, ventriloquists, caricature artists, balloonists, and catering at Revolution Brewery. With shuffleboard, brewery tours, and a photo booth it was a great send-off and morale booster before a lockdown none of us anticipated.