Co-designing Culture-Building Efforts

A strong organizational culture doesn’t happen by chance—it’s intentionally shaped by the people who live it every day through their actions, interactions, and shared commitments. 

While culture-building may seem like a major undertaking, it is just as essential as it is rewarding. A strong org culture drives employee engagement, fosters collaboration, and cultivates a sense of belonging, ultimately leading to higher productivity and long-term success.

 

Task

How might we enable the KMC team to articulate and communicate their org culture better?

  • Design

    A 2-day Culture-Building Co-design Session, following the Define-Dream-Discover process and utilizing Habi’s own OrgCulture Canvas as the main tool

  • Client

    KMC Solutions

By making the process human-centered and participatory, organizations can not only strengthen their culture but also ensure its lasting impact. This is what guided us when we partnered with the Human Experience Team of KMC Solutions in co-designing strategies for their culture-building efforts

Structured Yet Participatory Approach

The workshop followed the Define-Dream-Discover process: defining the current org culture through reflection and sensing, dreaming collectively about what the intended culture could look like, and discovering practices that align with the intended culture. 

This process enabled the participants to align on their personal and collective aspirations in the workplace. 

 

Empathy in Action

Culture-building starts with understanding the people who shape it. In the workshop, participants engaged in design thinking activities like Roses-Thorns-Buds and Empathy Mapping to reflect on their workplace experiences and to better understand the people they are working with and designing for. 

These exercises fostered deep listening, perspective-taking, and shared understanding, helping the team articulate what matters most in their work culture.

Fun and Delight

Culture-building doesn’t have to be all serious – it can be playful, too! Through Lego Serious Play, participants engaged in hands-on storytelling, using Lego bricks to visualize their ideas, challenges, and aspirations for KMC’s culture.

This creative activity enables them to articulate their collective vision of the culture they intend to build. 

 

Balancing Aspirations and Action

Turning ideas into reality requires both vision and commitment. During the second day of the workshop, participants engaged in a Design Thinking activity where they rapidly prototyped solutions to bring their ideal workplace culture to life. 

By applying Design Thinking to culture-building, organizations move beyond abstract discussions and into practical, actionable steps that create a more connected, engaged, and thriving workplace.

Want to learn more about what we do? Email us at kumusta@habieducationlab.org and share your vision with Habi!