Intra-Collectivity –
A Manual to a Sustainable Internal Communication
Master Thesis project Norman Lammers
This is the idea:
Practices that enrich organizational networks
This project is about the creation of an online manual (website-based-ebook) for a sustainable internal communication, which is based on research and my work experience at the IKEA group. There, I contributed to the development of an intranet tool, the sustainability Hub. The research and the methodological framework is transition design, sustainable dialogue and the diverse economy. I call the my project Intra-Collectivity because it references to a network that together overcomes the problems of sustainability.
The term sustainable internal communication or sustainable intranet is made-up by me and is a combination of the research fields forming a specific design proposal. It can be rephrased as network-internal communication about sustainability.
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Image: Here you see an image of my manual. It is designed as a web-based ebook and can be easily accessed and shared
Image: My Design proposes a dedicated Network practice that deals with the problems of sustainability. It is located within the organizational network and should address everyone within the organization.
The visualization explains the sustainable principles
The graphics are in the centre of each screen within the manual, placing the illustration as the most important asset the design features. This highlights the graphic. However, the graphics, because they represent communication recommendations, are highly unlikely to be understood without the text, which explains the principles and graphics.
I chose the style because I wanted to combine contemporary digital interfaces and the infographic approaches. I converted my graphics into a consistent 3D-optic to make it more unique, more engaging, and possible to explain the principles consistently, showing the same assets with different highlights.
An integral part of the design is its animations, which are designed to further explain the principles.
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Image: You see the transition from the principles regarding the information structure of the internal communication. In the manual, I explain each level and the graphic adjusts to it.
Examples of the principles
Here you see some examples of the principles that the sustainanable internal communication should follow. The design is very minimalistic and places the graphics in the centre. The beginning onboards and explains the manual and its purpose to the user. The end is an open call, that I do not want to spoiler. Please visit my manual to experiece it.
Images: These are examples of the screens that I designed as part of my manual
The process
Conducting this project I embodied two roles: 1. I worked as a Master Thesis intern at IKEA, learning about their internal processes and developing their tools; 2. I conducted my own design proposal based on my experience at IKEA and based on research.
The idea formed over a long process because in the beginning I did not have a clear vision of my design work. Also, a lot changed due to the virus COVID-19 so I rethought my ideas often.
I ended up with my current idea as I wanted to combine infographics, my learnings from IKEA and transition design in a digital space.
Left: you see the building process of the prototype. Every screen has to be logically connected.
Top right: Here you see me designing the key image of my project. It should illustrate the interconnectivity of the sustainable internal communication.
Bottom right: These were the first sketches that I conducted to ideate and frame my project.
Are you ready to break the barrier
of comfort and make a change?
Image: Animation of the principle: Breaking the barriers of comfort
Then download the manual or
experience the prototype:
Left: Here you can download my manual as a PDF; Right: Experience the manual in a browser (open in another tab)
