Symphony Foetsie is a game prototype developed by 8D in collaboration with the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. The game invites employees to explore their own boundaries around inappropriate behavior in the workplace. Our team designed and built a functional prototype, including a data output system, to assess the game’s effectiveness.
Strategic Designer Bas is happy to tell you more about the entire process!
Building a safe work environment takes more than just following the rules. Equally important is developing a sense of what happens beneath the surface. Think of behaviors that push the limits — situations that feel uncomfortable but don’t seem serious enough to call out right away.
Many organizations offer awareness and resilience training to help employees recognize and discuss such behavior. These programs are valuable, but often costly and difficult to scale. From that reality, the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences and 8D joined forces to explore whether a game could serve as a practical and flexible alternative.
ApproachUnder the guidance of Dr. Wouter Smit, the project combined two scientific perspectives. The first draws on a meta-analysis of 25 cases of organizational misconduct in the Netherlands (Essen et al., 2016). From this study, seven red flags emerged — cultural risk signals linked to a higher likelihood of transgressive behavior. These signals were integrated into the game as familiar workplace scenarios that players must learn to recognize.
The second perspective focuses on bystander behavior: what can you do when you notice a red flag, and what response fits the culture of your team? Combining both perspectives led to a framework in which players not only learn to identify when something feels off, but also how to respond constructively as team members.
Based on these theoretical frameworks, 8D handled the interaction design as well as the graphical and technical realization. The team also advised on a low-threshold and cost-effective way to make gameplay data insightful. The central question: which data are needed to guide a team conversation, and how can that data be generated through gameplay?
ResultsThe prototype is easy to access on a laptop or phone and requires no extensive instructions. Symphony Foetsie takes place during an office party where a small orchestra is performing. When the conductor suddenly disappears, players look for clues around the office.
The game consists of four levels with two types of challenges:
– Escalation challenges: players are presented with a situation that unfolds in five escalating steps. At each step, they decide whether to continue or stop. This reveals their personal boundaries and sensitivity to certain red flags.
– Reflection challenges: players read a scenario, choose a response, and indicate how recognizable and stressful it feels in their own experience.
As players progress, a picture emerges of the team’s blind spots and tension points. These insights form a starting point for the team discussion: where do we draw the line?
A manager or facilitator can export the gameplay data afterward and combine it at the department level. This makes it possible to see which red flags occur most frequently and how much stress they hypothetically provoke.
Publications
The game prototype was tested by employees from eight organizations across various sectors. In early 2026, an article by Wouter Smit and 8D designer Johan van der Meulen will appear in the Tijdschrift voor Conflicthantering (Journal of Conflict Management), detailing the research approach and early insights into gamifying psychological safety at work.
