The Financial Information System for California, known as FI$Cal, is the most complex IT project in the history of the state. It replaces 2,500 legacy systems and integrates state government’s cash management, accounting, budget and procurement processes onto a single platform. More than 15,000 state employees
from 152 departments run $2 trillion in banking transactions per year.
from 152 departments run $2 trillion in banking transactions per year.
Using the FI$Cal system represents a very significant change for state workers, and our department wanted
to find a way to help. The Department of FI$Cal invited our system users to three days of Imagine FI$Cal workshops to brainstorm improvements to our system, training and customer service.
to find a way to help. The Department of FI$Cal invited our system users to three days of Imagine FI$Cal workshops to brainstorm improvements to our system, training and customer service.
The Imagine FI$Cal workshops were a brand new approach for soliciting customer feedback. Participants were seated at tables of six that moved through a series of hands-on exercises to come up with a solution to a problem they were experiencing with our system. FI$Cal staff kept activities moving, but our end users were in the driver's seat.
Workshop branding and collateral were designed to spark a sense of innovation, possibility, and imagination.
We wanted to help our participants think “yes, and” to move beyond “but, no” barriers. Through drawing, discussion and some icebreaking activities, our “Imagineers” were able to unlock their creativity to come up with 22 new ideas.
We wanted to help our participants think “yes, and” to move beyond “but, no” barriers. Through drawing, discussion and some icebreaking activities, our “Imagineers” were able to unlock their creativity to come up with 22 new ideas.
CREATIVE PROCESS
Because there was no existing branding, I started the creative process by sketching on a blank sheet of paper. Bubbles, circles with ideas, and a light bulb emerged. By focusing on the letter "I," it represented the individuality of imagination.
Imagine FI$Cal Logo & Banner
I used Adobe Illustrator CC in creating the Imagine FI$Cal logo. The icons around the light bulb represent ideas that would be generated from the workshop. The background is designed like a geometric web to represent communication and collaboration.
RESEARCH
According to Wikipedia, “to imagine means to form new images and sensations that are not perceived through the five physical senses.”
After reading that, it occurred to me, “It’s all in the mind, and it all starts with a bright idea”
I wrote these words on my notebook:
Bright, idea, person, thinking, light bulb moment.
That’s when the light bulb emerged as the primary symbol to signify what the design-thinking workshop is all about – gathering people from different departments to put their “thinking hat” on to come up with bright ideas on how to improve our system.
Graphic Animation
I used Adobe Photoshop CC's timeline feature to create this animation of the person putting the light bulb
over the head. I created different layers of the arm/hand movements and looped them into a GIF image.
This animation will be used in videos.
over the head. I created different layers of the arm/hand movements and looped them into a GIF image.
This animation will be used in videos.
Table name cards for Imagine FI$Cal attendees
The person with the light bulb head represents the "Imagineers" of this event.
Each card was hand cut and folded to expose the top of the light bulb for added interest and dimension.
Each card was hand cut and folded to expose the top of the light bulb for added interest and dimension.
CHALLENGES
Imagine FI$Cal had a shoestring budget. Because this was the inaugural Imagine FI$Cal event and we knew it would be continuing, I had to create all new branding and collateral on a short timeline, and also make the designs meaningful enough to last for future events. The branding had to work across multiple media, including on t-shirts, the web, place cards and posters. I solved the design crunch by understanding what the event was about, planning ahead how elements of the design would work across different media, and producing a simple yet lively theme that will last into the future.
WEBSITE
How Might We Posters
These posters were designed for a design-thinking workshop to encourage participants to ask questions and come up with ideas and suggestions on how to improve areas in training, customer service and system improvements.
Imagine FI$Cal Flier Design
RESULTS
More than 140 participants from 36 state departments filed into three days of Imagine FI$Cal workshops from April 8 – 10, 2019. The workshops generated 22 concept posters on ways to improve training, customer service and the system. Because of the huge success of our first Imagine FI$Cal workshop, more workshops will take place for the FI$Cal system end users in the coming months.
Imagine FI$Cal Event Recap Video
This video was shot using Sony A6500 and was edited using
Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, Photoshop and Adobe Audition.
Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, Photoshop and Adobe Audition.
Imagine FI$Cal design-thinking workshop photos
TESTIMONIALS
"My biggest take away is the collaboration between departments and coming up with these ideas to make the system better." - Nasra Torres, California Department of Veterans Affairs
"I feel like my ideas are being taken seriously and recorded." - Collon Tomlyn, California Department of State Hospitals
"Anytime you roll out something new it's challenging, but there are solutions when we all work together on it." - Ray Sena, California Department of Veterans Affairs
