The Next Project

An internal platform to fund ideas

The Next Project was designed to unlock ideas that rarely get heard. Built as a mobile and web-based system, it allowed employees to share concepts, support initiatives with real credits, and contribute to projects they believe in. Leadership could track engagement, define funding logic, and maintain full visibility over internal momentum.

Simple, transparent, and structured, the platform shifted participation from passive feedback to active shaping. It created a visible system for innovation to emerge from within.

When
2017

Where
Haufe, St. Gallen🇨🇭

Role
UX/UI Lead, Branding, Visual Direction, Design System

Challenge

Large organizations often struggle to surface and support bottom-up ideas. While innovation is encouraged, the pathways to act on it are unclear. Projects lose visibility. Potential remains untapped. Employees feel disconnected from strategic change.

The goal was to build a system that could formalize internal innovation — without slowing it down. One that would empower employees and allow leadership to guide it with intention.

Approach

The design process focused on aligning two experiences: one for employees, one for decision-makers.

Employees needed a clear, intuitive interface to discover projects, track progress, and support ideas with minimal friction. Executives required a system that maintained structure and control — from funding permissions to impact analysis.

Prototypes were built and validated with users. Engagement mechanisms were tested, including swiping, badges, and quick actions. The interface was designed to be fast and focused — no learning curve, no clutter.

My Role

UX and UI lead across the entire platform.
Responsible for the mobile and web experience, visual system, and interface logic.
Defined component libraries and design patterns.
Contributed to strategic framing, stakeholder communication, and iterative refinement.

Solution 1

Mobile App

Designed to let employees explore ideas and support what resonates. The interface prioritized speed, clarity, and visibility. Users could browse projects, view progress, contribute credits, and earn recognition through meaningful engagement.

Swiping and long-press interactions made actions feel light and immediate. Every element served a purpose.

Solution 2

Web Interface

Developed for leadership and innovation managers to oversee the entire system. The panel allowed configuration of credit distribution, funding access, and project visibility.

Data dashboards gave insights into what was gaining traction, where support came from, and which ideas moved fastest. The result was a tool that supported governance without removing participation.

Value Delivered

The system created a new layer of visibility for internal ideas. It gave structure without slowing initiative. And it showed employees that their input could translate into action.

The platform continues to serve as a foundation for internal innovation frameworks — adaptable, scalable, and grounded in participation.

Team

Project Contributors
Sevgjan Haxhija, Vladimir Mijatovic.

Design & Development
Rolling Rabbits

In Collaboration With
Haufe

Reflection

This project highlighted the importance of simplicity in innovation systems. Building engagement without noise, and governance without friction, became the design challenge and success. It also reinforced the power of design to align different layers of an organization — from entry-level contributors to executive decision-makers.

The Next Project

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