Inside the Makeen program development process
Program story
Savola Group has partnered with Kashida to build the Makeen online learning program designed to increase awareness and capacity for disability inclusion in the workplace. Qashida used creative learning experience design (LXD) techniques that blend storytelling, character-guided navigation, interactive environments, and scenario-based challenges to deliver highly engaging experiences that align with Sabora World’s strategic vision and support Saudi Vision 2030.
client context
The Savola World Foundation leads several initiatives that empower people with disabilities and increase their participation in the labor market. As part of this mission, and in line with Saudi Vision 2030, the Foundation aimed to develop a training program that would raise awareness about disability inclusion, build practical skills for interacting effectively with colleagues with disabilities, and support a broader cultural change towards inclusive employment across Savora companies.
Why creativity matters in LXD and design
Creativity in design is often underestimated and treated as a decorative “addition.” In fact, this is a core skill for both Learning Experience Designers (LXDs) and designers across disciplines. This was central to the development of the Makeen learning program.
For LXD, creativity turns learning from passive content delivery into an immersive journey that taps emotion, curiosity, and motivation. For designers, creativity ensures that products, visuals, and interfaces are not only functional, but also easy to use, intuitive, and inspiring.
Creativity acts as a bridge between learning science (cognitive load, Bloom’s taxonomy, AGES model) and engagement strategies (storytelling, gamification, visual design). At Makeen, this bridge connects complex concepts around inclusion to relevant scenarios in the workplace, allowing learners to move forward with confidence and stay motivated.
The Challenge: Beyond Content Delivery
Even strong courses can lose learners before they are completed. The challenge is rarely the subject matter itself, but rather how the learning is designed and experienced. This was especially important at Makeen, where the content deals with sensitive and impactful aspects of workplace inclusion.
To succeed, the Kashida team had to avoid some common pitfalls.
Monotony and lack of engagement. Traditional slides and long reads cannot create the emotional connection needed for a topic as important as inclusion. Overwhelming or poorly structured content. High density of information and unclear order can cause cognitive overload, especially regarding topics related to policy, workplace arrangements, and communication principles. Irrespective of the learner’s context. If content does not reflect the real-life situation, employees will have a hard time understanding its value, which is a risk when discussing workplace inclusion. Visual design and interaction design are weak. An outdated or messy design indicates low value. Poor UI and UX, such as confusing navigation and inconsistent layouts, can frustrate learners and reduce trust. Absence of motivating force. Without rewards, recognition, or milestones, learners have little reason to continue. Progress is invisible and the course becomes a task rather than a challenge.
Our solution: creative intervention in LXD and design
The Kashida team used creative LXD, storytelling, realistic scenarios, and intuitive visual design to make learning active and immersive. Key interventions include:
1. Storytelling and Characters
The team used storytelling and character guides that included employees with different disabilities to make inclusion feel human, relatable, and emotionally engaging.
Image provided by: Kashida
2. Visuals, real environments, and structured content
Complex topics have been broken down into visually easy-to-understand segments. The Savola building served as an interactive environment, with elevators on each floor that introduced new topics and helped learners connect content to familiar work spaces.
Image provided by: Kashida
3. Scenario-based learning
Short, realistic scenarios were placed at the beginning of each topic to activate prior knowledge and encourage learners to think before understanding the content. These scenarios reflected everyday situations at Savola and helped learners remember what they already knew, increase their curiosity, and prepare them for the next learning point.
Image provided by: Kashida
4. Modernize your visual and interaction design
The interface was clean, simple, and easy to navigate. Clickable hotspots, guided prompts, and minimal visual clutter reduced cognitive load, and soft ambient audio added subtle realism without distraction. This design approach allows learners to stay focused and move through each floor of the Savola building with confidence.
Image provided by: Kashida
5. Increase motivation with gamification
To keep you motivated throughout your journey, the Kashida team incorporated light gamification elements. Progress indicators, subtle sound cues, and small moments of accomplishment create a sense of progress without feeling competitive or overwhelmed. These elements helped learners recognize how far they had come, stay engaged with each floor of content, and feel a sense of accomplishment as they moved through the building.
Image provided by: Kashida
6. Accessibility by design (WCAG 2.0 AA compliant)
Accessibility was treated as a fundamental design requirement. The Kashida team developed the learning experience in accordance with the WCAG 2.0 AA standard, ensuring compliant color contrast, alt text, keyboard accessibility, and clear content structure. Given Makeen’s focus on disability inclusion, it was essential that the course itself reflected best practices in inclusive design and provided an equitable and fully accessible experience for all learners.
Image provided by: Kashida
Expected impact
The structure and creative strategies built into Makeen are designed to deliver tangible improvements in several areas.
1. Improving employee awareness
Deepen your understanding of the concept of disability inclusion. You can get a better idea of the actual workplace accommodations.
2. Strengthening practical skills
My confidence has improved when interacting with colleagues with disabilities. Strengthening the ability to identify accessibility barriers and propose solutions.
3. Increase engagement and completion rates
The scenario-first design and interactive floor are expected to keep learners motivated. Gamification and narrative continuity support consistent participation.
4. Improving learning retention rate
Storytelling and visual metaphors help learners remember information long after training.
5. Alignment with Vision 2030
Promote inclusive employment and support national DEI efforts.
The Makeen online program is positioned as a cornerstone of Savola World’s inclusion efforts, enabling employees to translate training into daily inclusive actions.
Creativity as a driving force
Creativity and impactful design were the foundation for turning inclusion training into an active, memorable and human-centered experience. By combining stories, realistic scenarios, interactive spaces, and simple gamification, the program helped employees understand and apply inclusive behaviors, supporting Savola’s broader commitment to Vision 2030.
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Kashida
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