Culture, Inclusion & Anti-Racism by Design
As a creative leader, I helped shape NorQuest’s shift toward a more inclusive, equitable, and human-centred organization. This case study explores three interconnected initiatives that transformed the college’s brand expression, workplace culture, and systemic equity practices. These projects combined visual storytelling with courageous leadership in spaces of trust, deep listening, and lasting impact.
Project Overview
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Interim Director of Brand and Creative Services | Co-founder, Anti-Racism Council | Culture Champion | Art Director | Lead Designer, Illustrator |
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My involvement began as one of 20 selected Culture Champions—a diverse, cross-hierarchical team tasked with rebuilding our workplace culture from the inside out. We began by removing job titles at the door and sharing openly about the realities of our existing culture. I drew heavily on this experience to inform my own leadership style—centering deep empathy, psychological safety, and transparency.
We conducted anonymous employee interviews, hosted listening circles, and reviewed personal stories to co-design a healthier future culture. The resulting values reflected our collective vision: from a culture of blame and fear to one rooted in trust, learning, and gratitude. This work directly shaped the creative brief and visual direction I later led.
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To bring these new values to life, I illustrated a series of modular “tiles” using hand-drawn elements and bright colours to evoke warmth, joy, and human connection. I also directed the development of a full culture design ecosystem, including:
Branded culture swag (seed packets, cookies, masks)
PowerPoint templates and digital assets
Virtual “Kudos Board” for peer recognition
A flippable, desktop tile booklet
NQ’s Culture Values Transformation
Project Goal: Visually capture NorQuest’s nine new workplace culture values with vibrant, human-centered design.
Leadership & Strategy:
My involvement began as one of 20 selected Culture Champions—a diverse, cross-hierarchical team tasked with rebuilding our workplace culture from the inside out. We began by removing job titles at the door and sharing openly about the realities of our existing culture. I drew heavily on this experience to inform my own leadership style—centering deep empathy, psychological safety, and transparency.
We conducted anonymous employee interviews, hosted listening circles, and reviewed personal stories to co-design a healthier future culture. The resulting values reflected our collective vision: from a culture of blame and fear to one rooted in trust, learning, and gratitude. This work directly shaped the creative brief and visual direction I later led.
Design Strategy & Execution:
To bring these new values to life, I illustrated a series of modular “tiles” using hand-drawn elements and bright colours to evoke warmth, joy, and human connection. I also directed the development of a full culture design ecosystem, including:
Branded culture swag (seed packets, cookies, masks)
PowerPoint templates and digital assets
Virtual “Kudos Board” for peer recognition
A flippable, desktop tile booklet
employee engagement with culture materials within the first 3 weeks
87%
Wahkôhtowin: Indigenization Strategy
Project Goal: Collaborate with Indigenous leaders and Elders to design a publication that honoured Indigenous teachings and NorQuest’s Wahkôhtowin (kinship) strategy.
Leadership & Culture:
I approached this work with humility, deep empathy from my lived experience as a racialized woman, and cultural respect—ensuring every element was reviewed in partnership with Indigenous leaders. I’ve led with care in photoshoots and visual choices, consulting with Indigenous leaders before using any imagery or design element and uplifting Indigenous creators and designers whenever possible. This work taught me how to lead from behind—ensuring the spotlight was placed on those whose voices matter most.
Design Highlights:
Created a centrepiece illustration of The Tree of Our Wahkôhtowin in collaboration with Indigenous leaders
Integrated Kalum Teke Dan’s stunning painting series throughout the publication
Carefully curated photography that avoided tokenism and reflected a respectful representation of Indigeneity
Anti-Racism Action Report
Project Goal: Visually communicate the College’s Anti-Racism Council actions and recommendations, while making the content accessible, inclusive, and human.
Strategic Leadership:
As co-founder of the NorQuest Anti-Racism Council, I collaborated with leaders across the College to co-create six guiding Anti-Racism Recommendations. I also co-hosted college-wide Talking Circles, where employees shared personal stories of racism and exclusion. These anonymous, vulnerable insights were held with care and used to inform lasting policy change.
To ensure the work didn’t stop at storytelling, I founded and led the Brand Working Group—a cross-departmental initiative born out of an AR Council meeting. Our goal: begin the process of decolonizing brand practices and make systemic, actionable design change.
Design Approach:
Used gentle watercolour illustrations to soften and humanize difficult themes
Featured diverse illustrations that included body shape variation, limb difference, and gender fluidity
Applied accessible design principles to colour contrast and screen reader compatibility
Impact & Recognition
Recognized for elevating accessibility and authenticity in design
Aligned with employee values and furthered NorQuest’s goals for inclusion, representation, and belonging
87% employee engagement with culture materials within the first 3 weeks
Immediate organic adoption of culture visuals across presentations, emails, and internal platforms
High visibility at culture launch events and employee recognition programs
““This was a transformative, heart-first experience that shaped how I lead creative and human spaces. Culture isn’t designed in a vacuum—it’s co-created with care.””
Client & Team Feedback
“These small details, with a major focus on accessibility, are what truly showcase us as a place of belonging and transformation.”