Themed corporate training ideas

Hi there,

As usual, time flies, and much of the past month was spent apartment hunting again. We were extremely close to getting a place we really liked. Unfortunately it is looking it has not worked out (there is still a slim chance we might hear back). Onwards and upwards, though I'll admit it was upsetting and I've been feeling up and down.

If that wasn't enough, things have been way too slow on the work front too. I worked on two two different pitches with agency partners; we didn't win them.

The search continues.

Shifting to better news and following up from last month's newsletter, the end of the student challenge I facilitated was a blast. I was impressed by the quality of their multimedia presentations. The students really took the assignment to heart, creating intricate handmade models to represent their concepts, as well as background music, collages from a workshop, compelling stories performed during the final presentations, AI generated content, and even 3D printed objects.

I invited a creative director friend as a professional jury (if you need an awesome writer / creative director, call James), asked the students to overtake the school's cafeteria, and they set up installations in various areas. It was a memorable and fun experience for their last week of studies (which was my brief), and they learned about a whole new industry from one of the most visited parks in France.

Ten groups of students presented with very different concepts:

1. “The Void,” a terrifying and traumatising experience in the dark, not for children or the faint of heart. A particularly disturbing sort of contemporary art meets Davids Cronenberg and Lynch restaurant concept.

2. “Half-Life,” a war-torn VR game experience inspired by Half-Life and Fortnite video games.

3. “Planet 6371,” a rich and verdant area inspired by Journey to the Centre of the Earth, featuring a particularly intriguing dance show.

4. “Sensoria,” A sci-fi themed area featuring five very different planets visitors can explore. Impressive physical display and mixed ride concept in the image above.

5. “Harmonia,” a music themed land, rides are set to different beats and activities are designed to encourage young people to listen and want to practice musical instruments.

6. “Futuria City,” an ambitious 1960s urban retro-future land (Imagine the Jetsons meets the new Fantastic Four movie), with a fast coaster and a compelling beauty parlour selling branded theme park cosmetics.

7. “Antiquity,” Classic theme of antique mythology, well executed, based on the myths of Demeter (life) and Hades (death). Great background music, fun presentation with another impressive model, and great moodboard collages.

8. “Prehistoria,” a theme inspired by prehistoric times and the evolution of species. Particularly interesting restaurant concepts and a parade based on evolution.

9. “Fantasea City,” fun and original myths inspired by a number of classics, mashing up under the sea and fairy tale themes. Excellent performance and storytelling of the background of the themes visitors are experiencing.

10. “Emile’s Horror Circus.” Another classic theme well done: fun circus for children by day, scary clown and horror for teens and adults by night.

As this worked out so well; I started thinking about corporate trainings and retreats. Theme parks tend to have events services as one of their revenue streams. In fact, Le Jardin d'Acclimatation was hosting two different corporate events that day, with a non-profit and another one with a large bank at the end other end of the park.

Moreover, I have been back in Paris for over five years, it is a dream destination for the whole world, and I haven't seriously thought of designing corporate training events around the City of Lights yet.

Considering theme parks first, they can be booked for a variety of events. However I believe those will tend to be celebratory, kind of or completely rewards based: company anniversary, Christmas or summer party, reward for best performers, that kind of thing.

It makes sense. It's a fun and high energy environment to be in, rides tend to be adrenaline fuelled. That's why I also believe it can be a great environment for new ideas, and perhaps also one appropriate to overcome limits and fears.

By nature, theme parks are meant to be portals to another world. Disneyland opened on July 17th, 1955 and to this day features a famous plaque (I think written by Walt Disney) that says:

"Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy"

Fast forward to 2025 and the brand new Universal Epic Universe theme park in Orlando features literal portals from one self contained area to another, leveraged in their brand communications.

My point is that removing yourself from your ordinary context and being surrounded with brand new and completely different stimuli is part of the fun, encourages new perspectives, and so new ideas. those in turn can be used to solve problems and challenges - including business ones.

A theme park can be a excellent place to consider brand and business challenges from new angles, and I think the themes and types of rides available can have an influence on the kinds of solutions reached in collaborative design workshop sessions.

Overcoming limits is an interesting one too.

Probably not for large groups, though maybe. Doing something like a scary rollercoaster in a close team can build bonds, if everyone is equally up for it – no "forced fun."

I could design and facilitate a workshop around overcoming limits, particularly if going on a rollercoaster is a limit for the people involved, and associate it with a limit a business is facing, for example.

In a similar fashion, it's interesting to consider what Paris is associated with, and what kinds of trainings and retreats it could be best for. It is a wide topic given it could be anything from gastronomy, fashion, history, arts and culture.

If it is a brand strategy retreat, in parallel with considering the background, reputation and history of a business could be a couple of workshops along with a nostalgic walking tour of historic landmarks.

The next logical step being the future of the business and brand, maybe a review of the recent changes the city is still going through, such as adding greenery and pedestrianising large areas to be a better environment to live in for future generations.

It's still pretty conceptual at this point, though please give me a shout if you'd like to discuss any of these ideas or if you want to have updates about them as they shape up.

What else have I been up to?

• The last CreativeMornings Paris event was in collaboration with the French Ministry of Culture. We had a great talk with Pascale Obolo, who works on a variety of international art projects, including the Dakar Biennale, her art magazine Afrikadaa, and the Miss Read art book fair in Berlin.

• I recently celebrated my birthday! I listened to two superb jazz ensemble at the Festival du Parc Floral, Sélène and Ludivine Issambert

• I tried the brand new Wingstop fast food wings, the first physical outlet to open in Paris. The original hot (buffalo kind, my favourite) are unfortunately too sweet in my opinion.

• I enjoyed a pre birthday steak frites at the famous Relais de l'Entrecôte (that for the record and funnily doesn't actually sell any entrecôte, the steak cut is a contre filet)

• I was featured in a newsletter of the Outside Perspective independent strategy community I'm part of, check it out (my bit is at the end).

• I moan about superhero movies, and I still can't help but go see them. I thought Superman was all right. I really enjoyed Fantastic Four: First Steps. It's technically nothing to write home about, but an enjoyable summer popcorn movie, and I appreciated the retro-future design. It is better than the previous Fantastic Four adaptations, and than the latest batch of Marvel movies, but I'll grant you that's not that high a bar.

• I watched Murderbot, really enjoyed the show and am looking forward to reading the novels.

I hope you’re having a fantastic summer, thank you for reading!

Willem