Tracks to Transformation

Building design maturity inside KiwiRail

Overview
Client
KiwiRail
Industry
Public Transport / Rail

KiwiRail wanted to strengthen internal design practice, moving beyond theory to hands-on skills that could be applied immediately to real-world challenges.

The goal was to equip teams with practical tools, confidence, and frameworks to grow design maturity and embed user-centred thinking across projects.

Approach
Workshop Design
  • Day-long immersive workshop with practical exercises
  • Focused on user empathy, opportunity mapping, opportunity statements, and interrogating briefs
  • Built confidence through applied, real-world design challenges
Organisational Practice
  • Explored design values and decision-making frameworks
  • Introduced peer critique and collaborative review structures
  • Supported clearer articulation of “why” behind design decisions
Facilitation
  • Interactive exercises tailored to live KiwiRail projects
  • Collaborative mapping and structured problem framing
  • Reusable frameworks for ongoing team practice
Outcome
  • Teams equipped with actionable tools and frameworks for immediate application
  • Strengthened understanding of user-centred design principles
  • Improved clarity around organisational values and decision-making
  • Established a foundation for sustained growth in design maturity and collaboration