Design workshops are essential for designers to bring together diverse perspectives, foster creativity, and make progress on projects.
Blair Fraser, a design leader, shares insights on planning and running impactful design workshops.
Active learning experiences are more effective for retaining information over time.
The article outlines why design workshops matter, how to design workshops, run them effectively, and handle unexpected challenges.
Key tips include starting with a clear goal, time-boxing activities, incorporating breaks strategically, and preparing attendees in advance.
The importance of designing the overall workshop experience, not just the agenda, is emphasized.
Suggestions for enhancing workshops include creating a warm atmosphere, personalized interactions, monitoring energy levels, and incorporating fun elements.
Facilitation tips include setting expectations, establishing ground rules, using voting techniques, and managing challenges such as strong personalities or time constraints.
Post-workshop steps include summarizing the session, sharing outputs, assigning ownership, asking for feedback, and building facilitation skills beyond workshops.
Overall, the article encourages embracing the imperfection of workshops, staying adaptable, and focusing on creating valuable, engaging sessions.