When MailChimp’s employee count stretched well past 100 with no signs of stopping, we realized a change was necessary. We needed to implement more structure around things like hiring, travel, and general office management. But the thought of overloading employees with written processes scared us. If expressing some sort of formal process was necessary, we wanted it to serve—not impede—innovation.
And maybe we could somehow include cheeseburgers? The question quickly became:
“How can we create meaningful frameworks that feels authentic, fresh, and innovative while offering relevant and useful processes?”
We created MailChimp Book Club. It’s since become the home for HR and office guides, as well as company, culture, and value guides for all MailChimp employees. It empowers employees to streamline routine tasks through simple, straightforward processes, but it also helps them stay connected to the company's vision, purpose, and values.
The handbook covers evolved as the guides were written. A flexible system allowed for expressive photography to take center stage. I saw each cover as an opportunity to experiment with lighting, colors, props, and composition. I chose employees from different departments as models, using the themes of the books for photo inspiration.