We’ve seen how a topic like cybersecurity can come to life—combining narrative, gamification, and AI to create something truly engaging and memorable. But what about other topics often dismissed as “too dry” or “boring”?
Take compliance training as an example. Compliance is critical to every business, yet the campaigns and training materials often rely on similar approaches. And while compliance officers may joke about their role being “boring,” we all know the truth—what happens at the Compliance Team Christmas Party stays at the Compliance Team Christmas Party.
So, what’s the issue with traditional compliance campaigns?
The result? Compliance campaigns that blend into the background and feel more like a checkbox exercise than an opportunity for meaningful engagement.
But what if we flipped the script? What if we used narrative and gamification to transform even a dry topic like compliance into an immersive escape room experience?
At its core, the Liminal Shift approach to creative transformation is about using inputs, generative experimentation, and human creativity to produce fresh, effective solutions that align with the client’s objectives. Here’s how it works:
The process begins with a deep dive into four key areas:
These inputs are condensed into a repeatable brief that ensures the creative process is always tied back to the objectives and resonates with the intended audience.
This is where AI and creativity meet. Using generative tools, we create hundreds—sometimes thousands—of ideas through brute force creativity. But this isn’t a “set it and forget it” approach.
The generative phase is iterative, with human guidance playing a critical role. Liminal Shift adds layers of direction and refinement, testing and steering the AI-generated ideas to ensure they are not only creative but aligned to the client’s goals. We also provide additional inputs throughout this stage using our own idea libraries—unique repositories of creative inspiration, industry insights, and lateral thinking that go beyond what any AI is initially trained on. This bouncing back and forth between technology and human insight results in a bank of ideas that can be further refined into actionable outputs.
For compliance training, this process might result in three completely different, equally viable escape room scenarios. Here’s what that could look like:
1. Counter-Espionage
"What you thought was just another meeting on compliance takes an unexpected turn when you’re recruited onto a covert mission to uncover a bribery ring targeting your organisation. As new legislation looms, your role is critical: intercept encrypted communications, uncover hidden clues in everyday operations, and interrogate virtual suspects to piece together the truth. Time is running out, and every decision you make carries weight—get it wrong, and everyone will be affected. Can you expose the corruption before the story breaks?"
2. The Sunglasses (a.k.a. “They Live”)
"It was just another ordinary Thursday—until you found those fractal sunglasses left behind by someone in Compliance. Curious, you put them on and suddenly see a vision of a key supplier you’ve been working with violating labour laws. This could affect you, your colleagues, and the company’s entire future. Armed with this unsettling tool, you navigate real-world audits, factory inspections, and team interviews. The glasses provide chilling glimpses of what might happen if the wrong choices are made—or if no action is taken at all. Can you use what you see to make decisions today that will protect tomorrow?"
3. The Ethical Trade Show
"You arrive at the office to find an elegant, embossed invitation on your desk. It reads: ‘Welcome to The TradeShow. An exclusive event to explore partnerships, discover opportunities, and unlock your organisation’s full potential.’ Intrigued, you scan the QR code, and in an instant, the office fades away. You’re standing in a bustling room filled with suppliers, clients, and competitors.
As you navigate the floor, the lines between right and wrong begin to blur. A supplier offers a gift to ‘sweeten the deal.’ Another suggests dinner to secure a contract. A presenter whispers about a shortcut that could save millions. Each interaction feels plausible—tempting, even—but something feels... off.
Conversations loop, faces blur, and you realise the stalls aren’t selling products—they’re selling decisions, each pushing the boundaries of what’s acceptable. The Trade Show is testing you, revealing how small compromises can lead to larger consequences. Can you maintain your integrity and escape before the doors close forever?"
As you can see, by using this process, any topic—no matter how dry the material may initially appear—can be transformed into an immersive, engaging experience that employees will want to play. By weaving relatable scenarios into an imaginative, story-based setting, then layering gamification on top to make the learning journey interactive, we move beyond a checkbox exercise to something that truly resonates and sticks. Played in a team meeting environment, this approach can spark conversations and foster deeper engagement with the subject matter—turning learning into a shared, memorable experience.
This approach isn’t about throwing out the rulebook—it’s about reimagining it. By combining your unique content, culture, and goals with cutting-edge generative tools and a clear creative process, even the driest topics can become memorable, impactful experiences.
If you’re ready to take your training or campaigns to the next level, contact us today. Let’s turn the ordinary into the extraordinary—together.
