Bridging Identity and Organization: A New Training Program for Gen Z Interns

Innovative Training Program for Gen Z Interns

Artience Corporation, a leading provider of corporate education and organizational development support, in collaboration with the 270-year-old traditional apparel company Takihyo Co., Ltd., is set to launch a groundbreaking training program for new graduates accepted into their roles. This program will be offered for free starting from August 6, 2025.

The initiative seeks to address the reality shock often faced by new hires while fostering autonomy and engagement through a comprehensive white paper. This report encapsulates a detailed account of the program's unique training materials, including curriculum texts and instructional lecture materials.

The Essence of the Program: Merging Individuality and Organizational Identity

What sets this training apart is its innovative approach that connects each intern's individuality with the organization through T-shirt design. Through this program, the talents at Takihyo have been harnessed to create a curriculum that can be adapted by any company, allowing interns to not only embrace their identity but align it with the company’s values.

Interns are encouraged to delve into their strengths, values, and future aspirations while exploring commonalities with the company's culture and philosophy during the T-shirt design process. Elements related to the company's mission and social contributions (such as adherence to the SDGs) can also be included in their designs, promoting resonance with Gen Z's emphasis on purpose and sustainability.

The curriculum incorporates interactive team-building exercises where interns converse with one another, as well as a session for interviewing executives about their queries regarding the company. This fosters a deepened understanding through two-way communication.

At the culmination of this training, interns present their T-shirt designs to the executive team, sharing the intent and meaning behind their creations. Takihyo encourages these new employees to wear their self-designed T-shirts at the entrance ceremony, marking a personal and professional milestone.

The notion behind this initiative, enriched by Takihyo's expertise in the apparel industry, not only aims to boost interns' motivation through tangible outcomes but also creates opportunities for meaningful dialogue with management.

A Resource for Future Businesses

Details including training texts (with worksheets), guiding slides for instructors, and explanatory lecture videos are compiled into the free white paper. These resources are aimed at supporting businesses of varying sizes in establishing strong relationships with Gen Z employees—insight crucial in a competitive job market.

The initiative reflects a forward-thinking attitude towards talent development. The launch of the free resources on August 6, 2025, through Artience's official website, aims to aid companies seeking innovative practices for onboarding new talent.

Voices from the Contributors

Yasumichi Mori, a member from Takihyo’s Sustainable PR team, expressed, “With over 270 years of company history, we believe it is crucial to adopt innovative approaches in nurturing talent for the new era. Our hands-on experience with T-shirt design empowered interns to articulate their perceptions of the company, fostering a mutual learning atmosphere. The act of creating T-shirts facilitated a connection between each individual's creativity and the company's philosophy, reducing their pre-employment anxieties and building eagerness for their roles.”

Interns shared their thoughts about the program, one stating, “Initially, I was anxious about work and relationships after joining the company. However, through expressing my strengths and values via the T-shirt design, I felt the company accepted our individuality. The feedback we received from executives during our presentations was encouraging, and wearing our T-shirts on the company’s entrance day made me proud rather than anxious.”

Artience’s CEO, Tomohiko Sakuma, added, “Many companies struggle with high turnover rates due to reality shocks. Our program aims to bridge this gap by using T-shirt design to enhance personal expression while deepening organizational understanding, leading to increased autonomy and engagement among the new hires.”

This white paper includes repeatable strategies for executing the program, aimed at human resources personnel, company executives, and talent development specialists. The dual aim of nurturing next-generation talent, well-adapted to both the organization and society at large, is expected from this initiative, continuing to cater to the overarching goal of sustainable development in talent nurturing.