Fortress
Boosting HR productivity for remote teams
Company
Dwarves Foundation
Position
Designer (CONTR)
Year
2019
Market
Internal Tool
Problem
In 2019, Dwarves Foundation was scaling quickly with over 100 employees, but its HR operations were struggling to keep pace.
New hires felt lost during onboarding, employee data was scattered across multiple tools, and repetitive tasks consumed hours every week. Instead of focusing on strategic growth and company culture, HR team was forced to spend their time fixing operational errors.
Solution
Dwarves Foundation team ideated on Fortress, an internal HR webapp that centralized workflows and automated repetitive tasks. I joined as a Design Consultant to build the platform with an UX Designer.
I started with interviews and observational sessions with HR executives to see their pain points. Their problems were (1) switching between tools slowed them down, (2) manual errors, and (3) the onboarding process lacked structure and chaotic.
I relied on these insights and bring everything into one place in Fortress. HR managers could manage employee data, track projects, and onboard new hires seamlessly. Automation took over the repetitive tasks, cutting errors and saving time. Enhanced employee profiles, with skills tracking and career paths, gave managers a tool to guide growth conversations and performance reviews.
We tested early prototypes directly with HR staff, and when initial designs felt overwhelming, we simplified the UI and prioritized clarity. Custom illustrations were also designed for onboarding guides and internal communications, making the overall HR experience both smoother and more engaging.
Impact
The MVP launched in just two months, and within the first month, HR teams reported spending 25% less time on routine tasks.
The improved onboarding process allowed new hires to experience a seamless transition with no significant errors, enabling HR managers to focus on supporting company growth.
