Moving to Saclay

Partnership with Servier, a French pharmaceutical researcher

Partnership

3 people

4 months

2018

BRIEF

Pharmaceutical researcher Servier is moving to Saclay—the future Silicon Valley of France—in 2020 in order to reunite their three locations but also to bring the company towards the future of the pharmaceutical world. How can we guide the company and its employees in this change?

OUTCOME

A service that imagines, thinks and communicates about the lifestyle in Saclay, together with the employees

OBSERVATIONS

We first went visit the work place where we were introduced to employees with various expertise. Then, we interviewed them to understand how employees worked, how Servier functioned in the process of making a drug, what kind of relationship they had with their colleagues and other departments, and how they felt about moving to a new place. This is what caught our attention:

The announcement of moving to Saclay was a real shock

Employees don’t have the same information about Saclay and don’t understand the intentions of Servier

Servier has multiple communities within departments but they are segmented and not united

Employees were anxious to move to Saclay as it would radically change their daily life

METHODOLOGY

It was difficult to imagine how we could accompany Servier and its employees through change when the goal itself was not clear. We decided to first imagine daily life in Saclay —what problems exist today that can be fixed at Saclay— and then to think what could be done today to help them towards their goals.

STEP 1: DEFINE THE FUTURE LIFE IN SACLAY

Here are our three objectives for the future Saclay:

Set innovation as a lifestyle

Include all the employees, even those who are not researchers

Be open to the world

We have thought of multiple ideas that could be installed in the future buildings that executes the three objectives whether it was in organization, well-being or social:

STEP 2: DEVELOP A STRATEGY TO GET THERE

We had determined employees who are reticent today about Saclay wasn’t going to involve themselves to participate in the project: so our strategy is to promote Saclay by giving new solutions in the daily life, without forcing anyone to do anything. It is both a communication campaign to explain better how life in Saclay would be and a testing of ideas in order to perfect them for the next 3 years.

THE EXPERIENCE

We took the solutions we have thought for Saclay and imagined how we could establish them today. For example, gardening wasn’t possible to install in the current building so we replaced it by having a room full of plants where people could come and water them. This way we could also test ideas to see how we could improve them for Saclay.

Lucas waits for his work shuttle
Lucas waits for his work shuttle
In the bus he sees a poster explaining the shuttle service will continue for Saclay
In the bus he sees a poster explaining the shuttle service will continue for Saclay
He arrives at Servier and sees new banners
He arrives at Servier and sees new banners
Banners promoting Saclay
Banners promoting Saclay
In the entrance he has a glimpse of a new screen
In the entrance he has a glimpse of a new screen
Photos of Saclay are on display on the screen
Photos of Saclay are on display on the screen
He uses his new badge to open doors
He uses his new badge to open doors
The badge will be used for Saclay as well
The badge will be used for Saclay as well
In the corridor he sees new posters promoting Saclay
In the corridor he sees new posters promoting Saclay
The walls have changed colors: he doesn't get lost in this large building anymore
The walls have changed colors: he doesn't get lost in this large building anymore
He sees another wall, this time with a headline
He sees another wall, this time with a headline
He has his usual morning meeting with his team
He has his usual morning meeting with his team
A new poster is on his wall. He decides to take a break.
A new poster is on his wall. He decides to take a break.
He goes to the break room and sees a roulette
He goes to the break room and sees a roulette
On the roulette there are suggestion of new activities he can do
On the roulette there are suggestion of new activities he can do
The prototype of the roulette
The prototype of the roulette
As the roulette suggested, he goes water plants in the plant room
As the roulette suggested, he goes water plants in the plant room
New activities that Servier suggests
New activities that Servier suggests
A colleague recognizes the color code on his necklace that indicates his position and role. The colleague is curious and starts a conversation.
A colleague recognizes the color code on his necklace that indicates his position and role. The colleague is curious and starts a conversation.
Back at the office, it is almost time to eat.
Back at the office, it is almost time to eat.
At the line of the cafeteria, a new screen shows a weekly challenge.
At the line of the cafeteria, a new screen shows a weekly challenge.
When he picks up his tray, he sees a paper on it.
When he picks up his tray, he sees a paper on it.
It has some games but can only be played with others.
It has some games but can only be played with others.
There are also some quizz and information that allows Lucas to talk to his neighbour
There are also some quizz and information that allows Lucas to talk to his neighbour
Back to work, he has a long meeting.
Back to work, he has a long meeting.
To debrief from the meeting, he goes to the break room.
To debrief from the meeting, he goes to the break room.
He starts using the new screen he had glimpsed this morning.
He starts using the new screen he had glimpsed this morning.
The interface suggests some information on Saclay and Lab Saclay. It also allows Lucas to suggest an idea or a problem that could be solved. The datas goes to Lab Saclay.
The interface suggests some information on Saclay and Lab Saclay. It also allows Lucas to suggest an idea or a problem that could be solved. The datas goes to Lab Saclay.
He now goes to Lab Saclay to participate in the weekly challenge.
He now goes to Lab Saclay to participate in the weekly challenge.
He pairs up with a colleague he just met and uses a white interactive board to think of solutions to the challenge.
He pairs up with a colleague he just met and uses a white interactive board to think of solutions to the challenge.
The Lab Saclay offers 4 different technologies to help employees collaborate and be innovative but also to have more information on Saclay (VR).
The Lab Saclay offers 4 different technologies to help employees collaborate and be innovative but also to have more information on Saclay (VR).
The challenge is now completed.
The challenge is now completed.
He receives a pin that he can put on his necklace. He is now a participant of Lab Saclay!
He receives a pin that he can put on his necklace. He is now a participant of Lab Saclay!
He talks about his experience at Lab Saclay with his colleague
He talks about his experience at Lab Saclay with his colleague
He is happy he participated in Lab Saclay and can't wait to go to Saclay!
He is happy he participated in Lab Saclay and can't wait to go to Saclay!

WHAT I LIKED

I loved the complexity of this project. It was my first real service design project and it made me want to work on company’s innovation/transformation. I also really got along with my group who was passionate about the project as well.

GAINED SKILLS

I learned to adapt and strategize our design approach that made sense to the project. I also learned to explain and convince our approach to our client in order to reassure them.

ROLE AND TOOLS

I was in charge of visuals, interfaces and presentation. Scenario, icons and drawings done by Akanksha and myself. Product design and rendering done by Agathe Baudin and Akansha Joshi. Research, conception, mock-up and presenting done as a team. 

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