The answer to our question wasn't a poster or a pamphlet — it was behavior. Empowerment had to come from within, which meant designing for action, not just awareness.
We kept employees at the center throughout, using contextual research methods like ethnography, questionnaires, and surveys to gather insights directly from the city's staff. With no budget restrictions, the outcome could live in print or digital, freeing us to focus entirely on what would actually move people to change. What we made was a box holding a deck of cards, each with a small, healthy task to complete. To make it stick, we gamified the experience — cards like REPLAY asked you to repeat the last task for the next twelve days, turning a one-off action into a streak. The box also held a map of healthy places to eat in Savannah and a guide to the best choices for lunches out, so the healthy option was always the easy one.
The concept came down to small steps. Daily tasks, gentle reminders, and motivational quotes nudge employees toward better choices — and slowly turn those choices into lasting habits.
At its heart, the Little Pocket Box of Courage answered our opening question by meeting people where they are and making empowerment feel less like a resolution and more like a game worth playing.
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(2016-25©)
