Terra

Workhuman provides cloud-based software solutions which pioneer a more human workplace, primarily through social recognition where employees can recognise and reward each other. Workhuman’s belief is that “when people feel seen, they give their all ”. For more than 20 years, we’ve pioneered this belief, fine tuning a technology platform that proves the value of recognition.

The Workhuman cloud contains social recognition, performance management & development, life event and community celebration solutions. There are also analytical and administrative solutions for managers responsible for recognition programs in customer organisations. Our employee recognition and experience software is informed by over one billion data points derived from the interactions of millions of real, actual humans. Our platform’s DNA translates to ROI, retention and productivity.

Workhuman also provides a best in class eCommerce platform to allow for redemption of rewards received.

Design System Name

• Terra

Design System team size

• 12

Design System team make-up

• Designers
• Engineers
• Engineering Manager
• Product Manager 
• QA 
• Accessibility Expert

Governance model

• Hybrid

Means to ease collaboration

• Front-End community meetings
• Adoption meetings
• Collaborative component prioritisation workshops
• Onboarding training
• Education workshops (specific topics related to the DS)
  Process workshops with Developers e.g. Value Stream mapping
• Creation of community of designers that volunteer their time to foster education, contribution and collaboration for Terra
• Design peer review process
• Monthly newsletter
• Dedicated Slack channels
• Monthly office hours
• Design system and Design Operations sync-up meetings
• Marketing materials to assist with evangelisation and creating a sense of a design system community- Logo, branding, PPT templates, zoom backgrounds. 
• Terra release notes sent out for both design and development weekly.

Collaboration results

• Adoption Rates- instances and adoption levels increased exponentially from 673 instances in November ’22 vs 2009 instances in August ’23.
• 30% increase in contribution received despite reduction in team sizes. 
• Improved visual and interaction consistency across products 

Collaboration impact

Terra is enabling efficiency across all teams with Terra components that are fully responsive and already meeting accessibility guidelines, this allows for faster development especially for proofs of concept and pages for experimentation within products- up to 90% faster in some cases i.e. 1 sprint to 1 day development time! 

We are seeing increased engagement in the platform thanks in part to the predictability of experience as a result of adopting Terra. 

Terra is an important enabler for achievement of business results across numerous product development teams, particularly on our eCommerce platform following a modernisation effort and adoption of Terra. Indeed, Terra has become synchronous with tech stack modernisation efforts across Workhuman. 

Our various collaboration streams have created psychologically safe spaces to discuss projects, designs and processes across teams. 

Terra is facilitating a change of mindset toward systematic design and development.