5 secrets for successful workshops
TRANSCRIPT
5 secrets for successful workshops
@alisoncoward
http://www.bracketcreative.co.uk/book
This is not a talk about workshop activities
http://gamestorming.com/
http://toolbox.hyperisland.com/
http://www.designkit.org/methods
“Facilitation is a necessary design skill
…designers are not the sole creators – there are too
many moving parts, too much specialized knowledge
necessary to fully appreciate a situation.
Designers need to facilitate the creative output of
others throughout the organization…”
Peter Merholz (@peterme)
1
1
Start with a collaboration mindset
2
2
Four key skills underpin great workshops
Asking good questions &
curiosity
Asking good questions &
curiosity
Crafting good questions
Open-ended questions – why, how, what
‘Stupid’ questions
What if…? questions
Asking good questions &
curiosity
Asking good questions &
curiosity
Listening&
empathy
Asking good questions &
curiosity
Listening&
empathy
Dealing with ambiguity
Asking good questions &
curiosity
Listening&
empathy
Dealing with ambiguity
Get comfortable with being uncomfortable
Asking good questions &
curiosity
Listening&
empathy
Dealing with ambiguity
Get comfortable with being uncomfortable
“Sailing through the fog” IDEO
Asking good questions &
curiosity
Listening&
empathy
Dealing with ambiguity
Listening&
empathy
Asking good questions &
curiosity
SynthesisingDealing with ambiguity
Listening&
empathy
Asking good questions &
curiosity
SynthesisingDealing with ambiguity
Maria Popova (@brainpicker) on Combinatorial Creativity
“To create is to combine existing bits of insight, knowledge, ideas, and memories into new material and new
interpretations of the world, to connect the seemingly dissociated, to see patterns where others see chaos”
Smithsonian Mag, “Combinatorial Creativity and the Myth of Originality”
Listening&
empathy
Dealing with ambiguity
Asking good questions &
curiosity
Synthesising
Listening&
empathy
Dealing with ambiguity
Asking good questions &
curiosity
Synthesising
Listening&
empathy
Dealing with ambiguity
Asking good questions &
curiosity
Synthesising
Listening&
empathy
Dealing with ambiguity
Asking good questions &
curiosity
Synthesising
Listening&
empathy
Asking good questions &
curiosity
SynthesisingDealing with ambiguity
3
3
Keep it simple
!!!
!!!
Introverts vs extroverts
!!!
Introverts vs extroverts
Senior people dominating the conversation
!!!
Introverts vs extroverts
Senior people dominating the conversation
Group think
!!!
Introverts vs extroverts
Senior people dominating the conversation
Group think
Discussion going off track
Better brainstorming
Alex Osborn’s brainstorming rules
1. Focus on quantity
2. Withhold criticism
3. Welcome unusual ideas
4. Combine and improve ideas
Brainstorm in 15-minute cycles max
“Creative Conspiracy: The New Rules of Breakthrough Collaboration” Leigh Thomson
Individual thinking time
“Creative Conspiracy: The New Rules of Breakthrough Collaboration” Leigh Thomson
Manage feedback
Craft a really good question
Craft a really good question
Craft a really good question
Craft a really good question
4
4
Plan your follow-up before you design your workshop
workshop
workshop
workshop
workshopworkshop
workshop
Decide how you’ll document the
workshop
Decide how you’ll document the
workshop
Schedule time for the write-up
5
5
Think about the user experience
Workshop design process
Workshop design process
Function: what are the final outcomes?
Workshop design process
Function: what are the final outcomes?
Form: the exercises and activities you run
Workshop design process
Function: what are the final outcomes?
Form: the exercises and activities you run
Users: participants and how they’ll experience it
How should a participant feel?
Engaged and connected
Understand the purpose
Autonomous
Progress
Designing the workshop experience
Designing the workshop experience
What constraints will you provide?
Designing the workshop experience
What constraints will you provide?
How will you use the room?
Designing the workshop experience
What constraints will you provide?
How will you use the room?
How will you use materials?
Designing the workshop experience
What constraints will you provide?
How will you use the room?
How will you use materials?
What do you want your participants to produce?
1. Start with a collaboration mindset
1. Start with a collaboration mindset
2. Practice the four key skills
1. Start with a collaboration mindset
2. Practice the four key skills
3. Keep it simple
1. Start with a collaboration mindset
2. Practice the four key skills
3. Keep it simple
4. Plan your follow-up first
1. Start with a collaboration mindset
2. Practice the four key skills
3. Keep it simple
4. Plan your follow-up first
5. Think about the user experience
Thank you
@alisoncoward
www.bracketcreative.co.uk
Icons: The Noun Project – TMD, Nicolas Morand, Emily Haasch, Oliviu Stolan, BenPixels, Christoph Robausch, Kevin Augustine, iconsmind.comIllustrations: Gabija Jankauskaite
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