Our Astro Pal Chatbot

For my Digital Workplace Design course, I want to showcase the chatbot prototype we created as part of our final project. This was one of the most exciting parts of the class for me. Not only because it was something new, but because I finally understood why so many websites rely on chatbots. After going through the process, it all clicked. Chatbots aren’t just trendy — they’re a powerful tool for improving access, efficiency, and experience.

What surprised me most was how approachable it was. Using Gemini and ChatGPT to brainstorm user flows and simulate conversations made it feel less intimidating. I went from thinking chatbots were for tech teams only to realizing how valuable and implementable they are in HR and workplace design. From onboarding to knowledge management to policy support, the potential is everywhere.

This course itself was incredibly hands-on and collaborative. We used Miro extensively to build empathy maps, journey maps, and personas. I genuinely enjoyed working with team members I hadn’t partnered with before. The variety of perspectives made our project stronger and helped build connections across the program.

All in all, this project gave me a few new skills, a better understanding of human-centered design, and a bigger imagination for what’s possible in the digital workplace.