People Management

For KeelWorks (Non-profit)

Chapters

Role

Design Manager
UI Designer

Team

6 Designers
18 Engineers
4 PMs

Timeline

Jan 2024 – Dec 2024
(1 Year)

Media

Context

A non-profit organization needed a better way to manage its volunteers.

The KeelWorks Foundation supports upward mobility, especially for the economically disadvantaged. It offers coaching services to hundreds of young professionals in career development. Due to the absence of a formal management platform, admins, human resources, and project managers rely on loose Excel sheets and documents, impacting organizational efficiency and growth. Thus, a centralized platform is needed to streamline volunteer management functions.

Role

I lead the design team for the volunteer management platform.

I began the volunteer management project as a UI Designer, where I spearheaded the development of a user flow and revamped the design system to enhance cohesion and efficiency. Following my promotion to Product Design Manager, I became the go-to expert for UX best practices as other project teams started adopting my project's design system.

In my leadership role, I manage a team of five designers, delegating tasks, running meetings, mentoring junior talent, and setting a high standard for quality work. I also prioritize creating opportunities for my teammates to excel. Additionally, I collaborate closely with cross-functional team leads to align design direction with project goals, ensuring the team meets MVP launch dates and organizational objectives.

Design As Of 09/24/2024

The desktop-only platform caters to multiple organizational stakeholders.

In addition to meeting the needs of its future users, the platform holds security in high esteem. The web application has varying levels of functionality access. Admins have access to all the platform's features, while human resources, project managers, and volunteers have restrictions on what they can view or do.

The Admin/HR homepage allows for the approval of tasks and monitoring of organizational growth.

The task screen keeps track of out-going and in-progress volunteer onboarding tasks.

The workflow screen allows admins and human resources to modify the task list given to volunteers.

I worked on the volunteer management userflow extensively before my promotion to lead.

The Admin is the only type of user who can manage other user's levels of access to ensure the organization's security.

Results

My leadership allowed the design team to deliver the user flows to the engineering team, keeping the project on track and ahead of schedule.

Feature prioritization and coordination with other team leads made way for unstoppable progress in the face of changing external stakeholder demands. Ultimately, my team and I delivered many design system-compliant wireframes that were on point with the over 400-page product requirement document, paving the way for a successful MVP launch and testing phase in the coming months.

Testimonials

My teammates had amazing words to say about me!

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I’ve had the opportunity to work with Eddy as their Project Manager, and I’m always impressed by his talent for collaborating effectively across teams and delivering outstanding results. Eddy stands out in aligning designs with user stories defined by the product team, ensuring the final product meets user needs and business goals. He creates a dynamic and supportive environment, making it easy for cross-functional teams to work together seamlessly. His leadership fosters a friendly yet professional atmosphere, encouraging creativity and teamwork while keeping the project on track. As a Lead Designer, Eddy has consistently produced exceptional work and inspired those around him. I highly recommend Eddy to any team looking for a skilled, collaborative, and inspiring design leader.

Armaghan Azarbarzin

Project Manager

KeelWorks Foundation

I had the pleasure of working alongside Eddy, and I can confidently say he is a truly exceptional designer and teammate. His dedication to his work is not only inspiring but also infectious—it made the project we collaborated on an enjoyable and fulfilling experience.

Eddy's design work is consistently reliable, thoughtful, and polished. He approaches feedback with remarkable grace and understanding, ensuring that each iteration we performed reflected his maturity and skill. This openness and commitment to growth were clearly visible in the high-quality results he consistently delivered.

Beyond his skills, Eddy's presence on the team was definitely invaluable. He maintained a collaborative environment where everyone felt supported and motivated especially myself. His positive energy and dedication encouraged me—and likely everyone on the team—to continue to do better and have fun in what we did. It was this enthusiasm and his dedication that made me feel at ease to leave behind the reins of the project in his hands— which he has handled with much grace.

What more could one ask for in a colleague? Eddy’s professionalism, talent, and ability to motivate those around him make him an asset to any team. I feel incredibly lucky to have worked alongside him and know that wherever he goes, he’ll make a positive and lasting impact.

I wholeheartedly recommend Eddy for any leadership and/or design roles—his skills, dedication, and collaborative spirit are truly unmatched.

Fian Rodrigues

UX Designer

KeelWorks Foundation

It was a great pleasure to work with Eddy during our time at Keelworks. As the design team lead, Eddy demonstrated exceptional dedication to the project, ensuring that the team’s designs not only met but exceeded expectations. He showed genuine care for every team member, continually improving the design process and meticulously maintaining the design system.

Having worked with Eddy for nine months, I witnessed firsthand how his guidance significantly elevated the overall quality of both design and functionality. His excellent communication skills with stakeholders and team members ensured that everything stayed on track. Eddy’s keen attention to detail and thoughtful decision-making made collaboration smoother and led to better outcomes.

I’ll always remember how kind and enthusiastic Eddy was in guiding me when I first joined the team. His support, passion, and professionalism helped me adapt quickly 💗. Beyond his dedication to the work itself, Eddy’s passion for design was evident in every aspect of his leadership. Weekly team meetings under his guidance were not only productive but also created an enjoyable atmosphere for collaboration.

Eddy's enthusiasm, hard work, and commitment to fostering a positive team environment left a lasting impression on me, and I am confident he will continue to thrive in all his future endeavors.

Lesi Li

UX Designer

KeelWorks Foundation

I had the privilege of working closely with Eddy, the design lead for our team at KeelWorks, and I can confidently say that he is one of the most talented and inspiring professionals I’ve ever encountered till date. Eddy possesses a rare combination of creative brilliance, technical expertise, and leadership skills that elevate every project he touches.

When I joined the team, the design process for a project was already underway, and much of it felt ambiguous to me as a newcomer. Eddy went above and beyond to ensure I was brought up to speed quickly and seamlessly. He took the time to walk me through the context, the user research insights, and the rationale behind key decisions made so far. What truly stood out was his patience and clarity in explaining concepts, making them accessible and actionable for me. I wholeheartedly recommend Eddy to any team or project that seeks a leader who can inspire, innovate, and deliver exceptional results.

Pranali Desai

UX Designer

KeelWorks Foundation

I have had the pleasure of working with Eddy for the past five months, during which he has proven to be an exceptional Design Manager. His leadership skills are evident in how effectively he has guided the team through complex design implementations, ensuring seamless communication across product managers, engineers, developers, stakeholders, and designers. Eddy’s ability to deliver high-fidelity designs, coupled with his knack for problem-solving, has been instrumental in driving our projects to success.

Eddy’s dedication to his work, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously have made him a reliable and valued team member. His collaborative approach fosters innovation and teamwork, creating a productive environment that benefits everyone involved. I highly recommend Eddy for any leadership role in design, as his consistent performance and leadership qualities have made a significant impact on our team.

Sanjana Pachipulusu

UX Designer

KeelWorks Foundation

It’s not often that I get to work with someone whose attention to detail is as remarkable as Eddy’s. His eagle-eyed vision significantly enhanced the intricacies and cohesiveness of the project he leads, which I have the pleasure of being part of. Eddy is not only exceptionally skilled at refining the finer points of design and team dynamics but also at approaching projects holistically, ensuring every element aligns with the overall vision. He excelled in leading design reviews, offering actionable feedback, and was always open to collaboration when facing challenges.

Eddy’s ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders is another of his standout qualities. He consistently brought valuable insights to the design team, fostering a collaborative environment where everyone felt heard and appreciated. His professionalism, dedication, and passion for design have left a lasting impression on me, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn from and work alongside him.

Sabrina Settle

UX Designer

KeelWorks Foundation

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