The Client Request:

Build an online annual course for the internal Compliance and Records Department to remind employees of security protocols and procedures.

Background:

All new hires receive compliance training within 30 days of start date. Training covers importance of client information privacy, email and data security, and reporting security violations.

Analysis:

During the kickoff meeting the client was asked to state the project goal and describe how they would measure success. Client confided that although new hires maintained a high adoption rate, employees dwindled most compliance steps after 12 to 18 months with the company. Current email reminders became lost or overlooked, and annual required training were perceived as a chore to complete, and not taken seriously. Thus, when violation reports were needed, employees could not remember who or where to submit a report. The client finally confided, “We thought we could just use posters to remind people. But posters always seemed to get lost among other company signage. We need something that catches people’s attention and reminds them how to respond.”

Further exploration reasoned, since email reminders and training already played a role, signature signage could fill and reinforce the compliance gap.

Design / Development:

Brainstorming potential ideas steered solutions away from standard warning posters. Also, one poster with all warning information would clutter the message. So, topics would be separated into several posters with similar themes and styles.

Option One — Movie Posters:

Fictious movie posters were first proposed as a one-page devices that incorporated minimal text with complementary imagery to tell stories that reflect urgency, peril, action-adventure.

Option Two — Band Posters:

Fictious musical band posters for their similar one-page storytelling ability. Band posters also had a verbal tie-in with the company Records Department. Since band posters often reflect a music genre with band personalities, these posters could incorporate department personnel as fictional after-work music alter-egos. This added a positive employee engagement aspect a standard training could not include and was chosen as the design direction.

Implementation:

A storyboard of poster genres and music themes were created to align with compliance messages. Thumbnail sketches were then presented to Records Department members to inspire their band participation. Photoshoots occurred on location and in-studio over several days. Final posters were printed after client approval and introduced at a company-wide meeting by “band members. Posters were distributed throughout company headquarters in high-traffic areas such as breakrooms, kitchens, meeting areas, restrooms, and entrance areas.

Impact evaluation and takeaway:

Compliance reports increased 15% the following year with users stating that the posters provided direct reminders on who to contact, where to contact, and what to report. Reports Team members also reported an increase in recognition from employees throughout the corporation that led to better interdepartmental relations and cooperation. “I used to be that old lady at her desk,” one Reports Department member commented. “Now, I’m that rockin’ chick in the band!”