As small agencies expand, maintaining culture can be a challenge. McGarrah Jessee, an agency that threw a massive celebration complete with streamers and beach balls for its 100th employee, recently rounded out its team to 140 people. While the expansion was a big one, the agency needed to figure out the best way to bring new employees up to speed on all things McGarrah Jessee.
Putting together a packet or PowerPoint filled with all the key facts about the agency, its people and clients was one route, but as a creative organization, those options didn't seem all that creative. Instead, the team decided to take a more interactive and visual route, compiling a lovely deck of 48 "Culture Cards"—which each designer at the agency had a hand in creating—that new employees collect in their first few days at the agency.