As a Product Design Producer Intern on the Product Design team at Zendesk, I had the opportunity to explore Design Operations—an area of design I was less familiar with but eager to learn about firsthand.

My project focused on improving the onboarding experience for new hires within the Product Design team. As a new hire myself, I had to remain objective while gathering insights, ensuring that my own experience didn’t bias my research or recommendations.

Since my work primarily involved internal processes, I can't share specific details, but I can highlight key contributions and takeaways from my time at Zendesk:

• Key Contributions:

  • Developed a 'New Hire Playbook' – A guide for managers outlining best practices for onboarding new team members.

  • Enhanced the Onboarding Process – Researched and proposed improvements to make new hires feel more welcome and to create a smoother transition into their roles.

  • Redesigned Documentation & Resources – Updated and streamlined internal onboarding materials to better support future new hires.

  • Conducted Interviews & Research – Spoke with new hires and managers to gather insights on the existing onboarding experience, identifying pain points and areas for improvement.

  • Presented Findings & Insights – Delivered a share-out presentation of my work to the entire Product Design organization.

  • Featured in Zendesk All Hands – Was interviewed about my internship experience as part of a company-wide event.

  This experience deepened my understanding of Design Operations and the importance of effective onboarding in fostering a strong team culture.