The HP Garage

Case Study: Innovating Together: Interactive Intranet Design for Hewlett Packard

Background

Hewlett Packard (HP) sought to foster a culture of innovation among its employees by developing an interactive intranet platform. Recognizing the need for a fresh, creative approach not available internally, HP engaged TimKautz.com to lead the design and implementation of this initiative. Tim Kautz’s prior experience working with key HP personnel during their tenure at Indus International/Ventyx made him a natural choice to deliver a user-focused solution.

Project Scope

The objective was to create a dynamic intranet website that would:

• Serve as a platform for employees to contribute innovative ideas.
• Facilitate collaboration and peer engagement across teams.
• Establish an easy-to-use interface aligned with HP’s brand identity.

This project marked a departure from previous internal HP websites, with an emphasis on interactivity, community-building, and user engagement.

The Process

1. Reacquainting with Stakeholders
   The project began with an introductory meeting to reconnect with HP personnel. The familiarity with the team from prior projects facilitated a seamless kickoff, enabling the focus to shift quickly to the unique needs of the platform.
2. Understanding the Vision
   Discussions with HP’s internal teams revealed the need for an innovative approach that could spark creativity and collaboration. The team envisioned a space where employees felt empowered to share ideas and connect with peers across departments.
3. Design and Development
   
   
   • User-Centric Approach: The platform was designed with an intuitive layout, ensuring users could easily navigate between contributing ideas and engaging with others’ submissions.
   • Collaborative Features:
     Features such as discussion threads, upvoting systems, and categorization of ideas by themes were integrated to enhance peer interaction.
   • Brand Alignment:
     The design reflected HP’s brand while incorporating elements that fostered a sense of community and innovation.
4. Interactive Prototyping
   Interactive prototypes were shared with stakeholders for feedback. This iterative process ensured the platform met the evolving needs of HP’s employees.

Outcome

The completed intranet platform exceeded expectations, offering a creative and functional solution that redefined how HP employees approached innovation. By leveraging the expertise of TimKautz.com, HP achieved:

• A significant increase in employee participation and idea-sharing.
• Enhanced cross-departmental collaboration through intuitive design and functionality.
• A platform that became a cornerstone of HP's internal innovation culture.

Conclusion

This project underscores the importance of bringing in external expertise to achieve creative solutions that internal teams may not envision. The collaboration between TimKautz.com and HP resulted in a powerful tool that bridged gaps, fostered innovation, and strengthened team dynamics across the organization.

First round concept

An introductory meeting was scheduled where I was reacquainted with the HP personnel, for which, I had previously wortked with at Indus Internationl/Ventyx. The scope of the project was different from previous internal HP websites.

Preliminary concept sketches

During the initial meeting, the team discussed concepts emphasizing the integration of photographic visuals featuring prominent innovation leaders. Preliminary conceptual sketches showcased a diverse selection of renowned figures from the past century, each symbolizing significant advancements and embodying the essence of innovation. This approach aimed to visually anchor the platform in the rich legacy of transformative ideas while inspiring users to contribute their own innovative insights.

Teaser workflow

Introduction of the HP Garage

Garage workbench final concept

The HP Garage entrance

Second round post-flash redesign

Innovation Showroom