In autumn 2025, a team of international and Finnish students at Laurea University of Applied Sciences worked together on a Digital Marketing Project for Packforce, a company specialising in packaging materials and supplies. The goal was to create a social media activation plan and build a strong foundation for the company’s visibility across different platforms. While the packaging industry may not be the most obvious field for creative content, the project challenged the team to develop a fresh and innovative approach to social media marketing.
Final meeting with the client
International Teamwork: Diversity, Challenges, and Communication Styles
Our team represented five different countries – Ukraine, Mexico, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Finland. This cultural diversity enriched the project but also introduced natural differences in communication styles. Some team members came from low-context cultures such as Finland, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, where communication tends to be direct, structured, and explicit. Others, like those from Ukraine or Mexico, were more familiar with high-context communication, where meaning is often conveyed through tone, relationship dynamics, or shared understanding.
These differences shaped how we brainstormed, gave feedback, and approached decision-making. For example, some members preferred straightforward instructions and clear task division, while others relied more on discussion, shared interpretation, and flexibility. At times, this mix required extra patience and alignment, but in the end it became one of the project’s greatest strengths. It allowed us to see the same idea through multiple cultural lenses, resulting in richer and more creative outcomes.
Creativity in a Niche Industry
Creating social media content for a packaging company was an interesting challenge. Since the product category is quite specific and not typically associated with viral content, it required creativity and experimentation to make it engaging for TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook audiences.
To better understand the brand and its products, our team visited the Packforce store. This experience helped us see the full range of materials, shapes, colours, and textures that Packforce offers, and it sparked several new content ideas. Some of them focused on product demonstrations, while others leaned into trending TikTok formats. The team experimented with different tones: humorous clips, more serious explanations, trendy sounds, AI-generated voiceovers, and personal storytelling. This variety reflected not only individual creativity but also the influence of different cultural backgrounds.
Project meeting at the Packforce store in Tuusula.
Building a Foundation for Packforce’s Social Media Presence
Even though the project was limited in time, the team managed to build a base for Packforce’s future social media activity. The content we created reflects different creative styles and explores multiple ways to present packaging products in visually engaging and platform-appropriate ways. We focused on increasing visibility, resonating with Finnish audiences, and demonstrating that even a niche industry can have a dynamic presence online.
By combining humour, trends, product highlights, and creative narratives, we developed a starting point for Packforce to continue growing its online engagement. We believe the brand truly deserves attention, and we hope that the ideas and content produced during the project will help Packforce reach a wider audience and strengthen its presence across social media platforms.
Final Reflections
The most valuable part of this project was not just the output, but the process: collaborating across cultures, learning from different communication styles, and discovering how creativity evolves when brought together by students from around the world. Working in a team where both low-context clarity and high-context intuition coexisted was an eye-opening experience, one that pushed us to be more flexible, empathetic, and open-minded.
This project reminded us that creativity thrives at the intersection of diverse perspectives. And while the task required us to think outside the box, the teamwork behind it taught us even more: that respect, curiosity, and collaboration are at the heart of successful international projects. The skills we gained will stay with us as we move forward in our studies and careers, shaping how we work together in a global environment.
Suurin osa Showcasen blogeista on toteutettu osana Laurean opintojaksoja. Koko koulutustarjontaamme voi tutustua nettisivuillamme. Tarjoamme kymmenien tutkintoon johtavien koulutuksien lisäksi myös paljon täydennys- ja erikoistumiskoulutuksia sekä yksittäisiä opintojaksoja avoimen AMK:n kautta!