Workshop design is fascinating because it gives you a chance to create an experience that helps participants render invaluable ideas that power the design process, feel empowered by their contributions and tap into their creative potential. For each workshop we design, we get to test and experiment with tactics that bring about states of hyper-creativity. In the spirit of sharing, you can find part one of a presentation on creative brain hacks from our senior associate strategist, Hannah Johnson. This first presentation focuses on 8 guiding principles to consider when designing a workshop.

1. 8 GUIDING PRINCIPLES
TO WORKSHOP DESIGN
By Hannah Johnson
Sr. Associate Strategist

2. HELLO
Workshops provide opportunities for participants to actively engage in the
design process. These interactions can support informative and inspiring
exchanges that spark new ideas, surface important information, and ultimately
enable progress towards the expressed goals.
Here are 8 best practices I find helpful when designing workshop experiences.

3. 1
Believe in
people potential
People are exceptional beings capable of limitless possibilities. With this is mind, it’s important to design
environments that allow people to tap into their creative genius and contribute their best selves.

4. 2
Remember that
it’s not about you
Putting your participants at the center of the design process does many things, two of which are:
1) Ensures that the correct needs are being met to effectively produce the desired outcomes
2) Reduces the pressure of the designer to know all of the answers--after all, the designer’s job is to
facilitate the process that leads to answers.

5. 3
Lead with intentions
Intention setting is a powerful exercise that enables you to visualize the flow of an experience and eventual
outcome. Imagining how you hope participants will feel, what you hope they’ll do during the workshop, and
how you want them to walk away from the experience are forms you can weave into the design. By naming
them in the beginning, you can ensure they’re accounted for throughout the process.

6. 4
Set clear goals
In addition to intentions, clear vision and goals serve as the North Star to effective workshop design.
Not only does it allow team members, client, stakeholders, etc. to understand the rationale for decisions
made, but it also anchors the work.

7. 5
Align activations
with intentions
and goals
Each activity, beginning from the introductions to the closing activity should support the stated
intentions and goals.

8. 6
Test & practice
Practice makes perfect. If time permits, testing activities allows you to refine the process.

9. 7
Have fun & go all-in
Participants will follow your lead. If you model the behavior you hope to evoke of your participants, they
will be more likely to engage in the desired fashion.

10. 8
Close the loop
If you are asking people to donate their time, it’s also important to thank them and share a snippet of
how their contributions has helped your process.

11. THE END
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