WeTransfer: Out of Office
WeTransfer: Out of Office
WeTransfer: Out of Office
WeTransfer: Out of Office
In June 2022, I had the opportunity to design an extraordinary event for WeTransfer, a company I had the pleasure of working with from 2019 to 2023. We were experiencing immense growth and, emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, wanted to bring everyone together for a two-day gathering.
WeTransfer was known for its vibrant, creative culture. A standard corporate event wouldn't do. We needed something unique to reignite that spark and foster genuine connection across 350 team members. The budget for this event was 700.000 euros.
The involvement
I was heavily involved in designing and facilitating this big production.
Overall event planning and schedule design to create the desired atmosphere and flow.
Curating, designing and running production on a diverse range of smaller sessions and activities.
Designing and running a large-scale 2 hour workshop for all 350 attendees.
In June 2022, I had the opportunity to design an extraordinary event for WeTransfer, a company I had the pleasure of working with from 2019 to 2023. We were experiencing immense growth and, emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, wanted to bring everyone together for a two-day gathering.
WeTransfer was known for its vibrant, creative culture. A standard corporate event wouldn't do. We needed something unique to reignite that spark and foster genuine connection across 350 team members. The budget for this event was 700.000 euros.
The involvement
I was heavily involved in designing and facilitating this big production.
Overall event planning and schedule design to create the desired atmosphere and flow.
Curating, designing and running production on a diverse range of smaller sessions and activities.
Designing and running a large-scale 2 hour workshop for all 350 attendees.
Client
Client
WeTransfer
WeTransfer
Type
Type
Gathering
Gathering
Year
Year
2022
2022
Process
Designing the experience:
Having just gone on an experience design course in Denmark; I could pour a lot of energy into the flow of the event; including hidden experiences, different entries for each day & unexpected use of the leadership team, with custom sound scapes over the venue intercom.
Festival-like sessions:
We offered a variety of smaller sessions throughout the venue, empowering people to choose their own adventure and engage with content that resonated with them.
Large-scale workshop:
I designed a unique workshop to bring the entire company together. It revolved around a large scale origami exercise I created specifically for this event & many more details I talk about in this talk.
Designing the experience:
Having just gone on an experience design course in Denmark; I could pour a lot of energy into the flow of the event; including hidden experiences, different entries for each day & unexpected use of the leadership team, with custom sound scapes over the venue intercom.
Festival-like sessions:
We offered a variety of smaller sessions throughout the venue, empowering people to choose their own adventure and engage with content that resonated with them.
Large-scale workshop:
I designed a unique workshop to bring the entire company together. It revolved around a large scale origami exercise I created specifically for this event & many more details I talk about in this talk.
Outcome
Outcome
Outcome
Positive feedback: The event was a resounding success, with an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 from participant feedback.
91.3 % rated the offsite a 4-star rating or higher
Inclusivity 4.4, venue 4.4, comms 4.3 out of 5.
WeTransfer felt much more connected to their colleagues with an 8.5 average rating under 128 respondents.
Positive feedback: The event was a resounding success, with an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 from participant feedback.
91.3 % rated the offsite a 4-star rating or higher
Inclusivity 4.4, venue 4.4, comms 4.3 out of 5.
WeTransfer felt much more connected to their colleagues with an 8.5 average rating under 128 respondents.
Testimonials
Testimonials
Testimonials
“Been thinking about leaving for a better paying company, but such a bold statement of WeTransfer's culture does make it harder to leave”
"I know I missed seeing people, but I didn't know I missed it this much. I didn't want it to end. I feel more at ease now I've spoken face to face to my team. I actually saw my manager for the first time." .
"It may sound a bit silly but a colleague and I had the opportunity to get to know each other and work through a work disagreement from a while back, not sure how or when this would've happened otherwise."
"I really liked, as I mentioned, that nothing was obligatory. Most companies require you to attend workshops and all in groups so that really made me think: wow WeTransfer really leaves it up to the employees themselves what they want to do during this offsite, they are adults, not school kids etc. I really appreciate that."
“Been thinking about leaving for a better paying company, but such a bold statement of WeTransfer's culture does make it harder to leave”
"I know I missed seeing people, but I didn't know I missed it this much. I didn't want it to end. I feel more at ease now I've spoken face to face to my team. I actually saw my manager for the first time." .
"It may sound a bit silly but a colleague and I had the opportunity to get to know each other and work through a work disagreement from a while back, not sure how or when this would've happened otherwise."
"I really liked, as I mentioned, that nothing was obligatory. Most companies require you to attend workshops and all in groups so that really made me think: wow WeTransfer really leaves it up to the employees themselves what they want to do during this offsite, they are adults, not school kids etc. I really appreciate that."
Collaborators
Collaborators
Collaborators
Het Hem (location) ..,staat (creative agency), Mischief Makers (facilitation agency), Moniek Suren, Holly Townsend & Esther Pauw (internal team)
Het Hem (location) ..,staat (creative agency), Mischief Makers (facilitation agency), Moniek Suren, Holly Townsend & Esther Pauw (internal team)
Socials
Goodreads