Initially, the design question was focused on developing something physical to increase awareness of inclusion among ABN AMRO employees at the office. By letting them experience what it is like to be excluded, they hoped to encourage employees to consciously act more inclusive in the future. Because of COVID-19, work life now suddenly looks very different. Like in many other companies, ABN AMRO employees expect to largely continue to work from home. This required a different approach to the design question.
Mies accordingly ensured an effective adaptation to her original concept, from physical to digital. Her first idea for “Our ABN” were physical barriers. By means of entry gates, employees would experience exclusion at unexpected moments based on, for example, their word choices or the color of their clothing. “Are you wearing a green sweater? Then this toilet is not meant for you.” Mies has translated this mechanism into a physical and a digital variant in recent months. Besides the fact that the two variants had to strengthen each other, Mies also took into account the applicability of the concept (its universality in themes and use during a regular working day), and its possibilities to stimulate open conversations.
With “Our ABN”, Mies has succeeded in making unconscious exclusion visible and open to discussion through a card game. Garments of the participants determine the game, so that everyone is treated unequally. If you are used to being ‘the norm’, Our ABN will let you experience what it is like to not belong to the norm. Examples or experiences from unconscious exclusion in language, locations and situations form the starting point for conversations about diversity and inclusion within ABN AMRO.
