What If Lab: diversiteit & inclusie

Sometimes you exclude people without even knowing

Everyone is different, and that’s a good thing. Those differences make us better and smarter. For ABN AMRO, head sponsor of Dutch Design Week, diversity and inclusion are important themes. In order to serve society in the best possible way, the bank’s employees must reflect that society. What’s more, a climate in which employees feel free to be themselves and experience equal opportunities and remuneration is fundamental to a strong organisation. The only problem is, sometimes you exclude people without even knowing you are doing it.

Only for those without a green jumper

What does inclusion, and therefore exclusion, actually mean? And what do you know about it, if you don’t actually experience it yourself? Mies Loogman from Enlightens designed the ‘Ons ABN AMRO’ card game – currently available only in Dutch – to make unconscious exclusion on the bank’s work floor visible and discussable. Her original idea was to enable ABN AMRO employees to experience exclusion first-hand. With the installation of playful ‘entry ports’ in the offices, some colleagues would suddenly – and unexpectedly – no longer be welcome at the office. For example, on the basis of their choice of words or the colour of their clothing. ‘Are you wearing a green jumper? Then you are not welcome in this restroom.’ When we all started working from home, Loogman translated her concept into a hardcopy card game, based on actual experiences of ABN AMRO employees. The game is now being further developed digitally.

Here’s how the game works

If you are accustomed to belonging to ‘the norm’, this game will show you what it’s like to fall outside of it. The participants’ clothing determines the game. And everyone is treated equally unequally. Each card has a question about, or example of, actual and unconscious exclusion hidden in language, locations or social situations. These form a starting point for an open discussion about diversity and inclusion among ABN AMRO employees. Have you already admired the magnified cards in real life? See and experience them yourself at the ABN AMRO Equal Opportunities Pavilion during Dutch Design Week 2021.