Atlas
Centralizing 6 different excel files into one employee
management workspace for 70+ employees.
Atlas
Centralizing 6 different excel files into one employee management workspace for 70+ employees.
TL;DR
The problem
The problem
An HR manager at a classified organization struggled to manage her workforce because critical data was scattered across multiple Excel spreadsheets.
An HR manager at a classified organization struggled to manage her workforce because critical data was scattered across multiple Excel spreadsheets.
My role
My role
I joined alongside a new Product manager, taking over the previous team.
Based on initial research and an early UI concept, we conducted a second research round and collaborated closely with users to design and refine the core platform features.
I joined alongside a new Product manager, taking over the previous team.
Based on initial research and an early UI concept, we conducted a second research round and collaborated closely with users to design and refine the core platform features.
Expected impact
Expected impact
Although full launch is currently on hold, continuous testing received positive user feedback.
End-users demonstrated high readiness to adopt the platform, confirming that the new workflows effectively solving their daily challenges.
Although full launch is currently on hold, continuous testing received positive user feedback.
End-users demonstrated high readiness to adopt the platform, confirming that the new workflows effectively solving their daily challenges.
NDA Disclaimer
NDA Disclaimer
Due to a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), sensitive details, specific domain terminology, and real client data have been anonymized or modified.
Due to a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), sensitive details, specific domain terminology, and real client data have been anonymized or modified.
One organization, too many spreadsheets
One organization, too many spreadsheets
Atlas was created to solve a major HR problem: critical workforce data - including schedules, employee info, and shift constraints, was scattered across multiple Excel spreadsheets.
Atlas serves as a single source of truth for the organization (70+ employees), streamlining shift scheduling and personnel management into one centralized platform.
Atlas was created to solve a major HR problem: critical workforce data - including schedules, employee info, and shift constraints, was scattered across multiple Excel spreadsheets.
Atlas serves as a single source of truth for the organization (70+ employees), streamlining shift scheduling and personnel management into one centralized platform.
My role
Product designer -
Led the evolution
of the platform
Status:
Pending Deployment
Team:
1 product designers
1 product managers
My role
Lead product designer -
Led the evolution
of the platform
Status:
Pending Deployment
Team:
1 product designers
1 product managers
User research & insights
User research & insights
When conducting the second research round with the product lead, I synthesized 3 key insights that guided my design solutions:
When conducting the second research round with the product lead, I synthesized 3 key insights that guided my design solutions:
Multi-Role support
Multi-Role support
Add new user roles (like Team Leads) to offloading heavy administrative tasks from the HR Manager.
Add new user roles (like Team Leads) to offloading heavy administrative tasks from the HR Manager.
Smart recommendations
Smart recommendations
Build a recommendation engine that hides unavailable staff in real time, eliminating manual constraint checking.
Balanced workload distribution
Balanced workload distribution
Design automated shift tracking that analyzes past hours to ensure fair work distribution.
The designs - Decisions & Iterations
The designs - Decisions & Iterations
*Some of the mockups are sanitized due to confidentiality limits.
*Some of the mockups are sanitized due to confidentiality limits.
*Sanitized mockup due to confidentiality limits.
*Sanitized mockup due to confidentiality limits.
Shift schedule table
Shift schedule table
Displays the full 7-day schedule, showing shift times and employee assignments for each workstation at a glance.
Displays the full 7-day schedule, showing shift times and employee assignments for each workstation at a glance.
VERSIONS + FINAL DESIGN
VERSIONS + FINAL DESIGN
Refining the schedule overview
Refining the schedule
overview
Before designing the schedule overview, I had few design requirements made by the HR:
Before designing the schedule overview, I had few design requirements made by the HR:
Multiple workstations
Multiple workstations
Display different workstations, each with its own hours and team composition.
Display different workstations, each with its own hours and team composition.
7-Day overview
7-Day overview
Provide a clear 7-day schedule that can easily be exported and sent to employees (replacing the messy Excel layout).
Provide a clear 7-day schedule that can easily be exported and sent to employees (replacing the messy Excel layout).
Flexible hours
Flexible hours
Clearly reflect any specific hourly changes or exceptions on a given day.
Clearly reflect any specific hourly changes or exceptions on a given day.
1
3
2
First iteration
Integrated card view
Integrated card view
Combined all workstations into a single view using a modern "card" layout.
Combined all workstations into a single view using a modern "card" layout.
Why it didn't work out?
Why it didn't work out?
• Employees don't switch stations, making a unified view unnecessary.
• HR preferred a familiar table over cards.
• Employees don't switch stations, making a unified view unnecessary.
• HR preferred a familiar table over cards.
FInal design (after user feedback)
Department-focused table
Department-focused table
Created separate workstation tables, with a dedicated section for shift hour changes.
Created separate workstation tables, with a dedicated section for shift hour changes.
The outcome
The outcome
• Separated workstation tables felt intuitive to users.
• Dedicated row for hourly shift changes keeps the table clean and organized.
• Separated workstation tables felt intuitive to users.
• Dedicated row for hourly shift changes keeps the table clean and organized.
*Sanitized mockup due to confidentiality limits.
*Sanitized mockup due to confidentiality limits.
Constraints management
Constraints management
To reduce the HR Manager's workload, we enabled Team Leads to enter constraints for their own team members by specifying unavailable days or hours. The system automatically saves this data and factors it into the scheduling process, recommending who to assign and who to exclude.
To reduce the HR Manager's workload, we enabled Team Leads to enter constraints for their own team members by specifying unavailable days or hours. The system automatically saves this data and factors it into the scheduling process, recommending who to assign and who to exclude.
The goal
The goal
Create a clean overview of all employee constraints while making the process of adding and editing them simple, quick, and intuitive.
Create a clean overview of all employee constraints while making the process of adding and editing them simple, quick, and intuitive.
The approach
The approach
Based on research, I designed an intuitive, Excel-like table with direct cell editing and color-coded constraints for fast visual recognition.
Based on research, I designed an intuitive, Excel-like table with direct cell editing and color-coded constraints for fast visual recognition.
*Sanitized mockup due to confidentiality limits.
*Sanitized mockup due to confidentiality limits.
Smart scheduling and fairness logic
Smart scheduling and fairness logic
The problem
The problem
HR previously scheduled shifts manually using multiple Excel files. Checking employee roles, constraints, and shift counts across files was overwhelming and caused frequent errors.
HR previously scheduled shifts manually using multiple Excel files. Checking employee roles, constraints, and shift counts across files was overwhelming and caused frequent errors.
The solution
The solution
Using the familiar table layout, clicking any table cell opens a side panel that recommends eligible employees based on skills, tracks past shifts via a star rating, and lists unavailable staff for full transparency.
Using the familiar table layout, clicking any table cell opens a side panel that recommends eligible employees based on skills, tracks past shifts via a star rating, and lists unavailable staff for full transparency.
Early validation & feedback
Early validation & feedback
High adoption readiness
High adoption readiness
The HR Manager expressed strong readiness to implement the system and fully replace Excel as the primary tool.
The HR Manager expressed strong readiness to implement the system and fully replace Excel as the primary tool.
Single Source of Truth
Single Source of Truth
Feedback revealed that having a smart, centralized platform for all key data significantly would improve workflow efficiency and overall work quality.
Feedback revealed that having a smart, centralized platform for all key data significantly would improve workflow efficiency and overall work quality.
REFLECTION
REFLECTION
What worked well and what I’d explore next
What worked well and what I’d explore next
WHAT WORKED WELL
Keeping constant contact with users for every decision and making sure every choice matched real user needs and workflows.
WHAT I'D EXPLORE NEXT
I would conduct user testing right after the initial release and gather feedback to continuously improve the system.
NEXT PROJECT:
Regulab
BETA TESTED
SAAS B2B
Reducing cognitive load by consolidating 4 fragmented tools into 1 intuitive regulatory system
AeventLi
BETA TESTED
REDESIGN
Redesigning an event-logging system to reduce friction and improve core data clarity.
Regulab
BETA TESTED
SAAS B2B
Reducing cognitive load by consolidating 4 fragmented tools into 1 intuitive regulatory system
VIEW CASE STUDY
estherbilyar@gmail.com
Resume