Christina Butter’s Post

Design thinking workshops are all the rage—but are they really effective? 🤔 I’ve seen companies pour resources into flashy workshops with sticky notes galore, only to have the outcomes gather dust afterward. Here’s why they often fail: • Lack of Clear Objectives: Workshops become aimless activities without specific goals. • Poor Facilitation: Unskilled facilitators can’t steer productive discussions. • No Follow-Through: Ideas generated aren’t implemented or revisited. To make them worthwhile: • Define clear goals upfront • Ensure skilled facilitation • Create an action plan for implementation Otherwise, it’s just theatre without substance. Have you participated in a fruitless design thinking workshop? What would have made it better?

The number of person-hours each workshop represents is (the number of attendees) x (the length of the workshop). For example, 40 people x 3 hours = 120 person-hours of work. That’s a TON of productive time. The job of the session designer and facilitator is to make sure the workshop produces outcomes that reflect the time investment. Here are some workshop design and facilitation tips to help maximize the use of that time: https://lnkd.in/gVzm7V6m #workshops #design #facilitation

Don’t overstuff the burrito. - How to Run a Successful Design Thinking Workshop Article written by Chris Conley Workshops are not about you or your work on the project to date. If you’re going into the workshop worried about whether the client will like what you are going to present, you’re already in trouble. Workshops are about a broader group engaging with the project in a deeply meaningful way. You are hosting the workshop to allow others to apply their expertise to the challenge. You’re inviting them into the project to help you. You’re giving their ideas a chance to surface and improve the project. So set the conditions that will engage the attendees. Link to the article: https://lnkd.in/ej89fU3Z

The thing that freaks me out about workshops... ...improvisation 😅🙈 I love to have a plan and be in control, but when it comes to workshops the outcome really depends on the participants, their knowledge, and engagement. If you facilitate, you guide, you're not the one who gives the answers. Being a workshop facilitator put me many times in an uneasy situation where I had to make a call on the spot. Dive into a topic or move on? 🤷♀️ There were times when I managed to be super on time and get A LOT done within just one hour, other times my time planning betrayed me, even though we had 4 hours blocked. The thing is, you won't know what topics might arise during the meeting. There needs to be a balance between clearing out the doubts while also making sure the team is not getting stuck and spiralling down on conversations that don't lead anywhere. Are we getting the answers we need? 🤔 No matter how ready you are with activities, FigJam/Miro boards you can't predict how they'll play out. A problem I have encountered many times was getting very vague answers. One idea per sticky note resulting in one big theme rather than more specific ideas. Generating 'How might we' questions resulting in addressing processes rather than usability problems... At some point realizing - this is not helping us. Sometimes you just have to pull the brakes and approach the activity from a different end, offer more guidance, redirect, and respond if the team gets sidetracked. Create space for fun and creativity? 🦄 You might wonder why is that even a question, BUT some people will not want to do ice breakers or participate in 'outside of the box' thinking activities. They might find them silly, a waste of time, and question their value. In moments like this, should you proceed? The thing is, you can't please everyone. Trust the process, read the atmosphere in the room, and cater to both creative and analytical personalities. In the end, everyone should feel included and have the space to contribute with their strengths and energy (even though they might not 'enjoy' every activity). Running a workshop definitely keeps me on my tiptoes, but that's part of the fun 😅 How do you respond to unexpected discussions, reactions and vague outcomes? #workshopfacilitation #workshop #workshopfacilitator #uxdesign

7 Key Ingredients for a Successful Workshop Running engaging and productive workshops is both an art and a science. Whether you’re facilitating Design Thinking, brainstorming, or strategy development sessions, certain key ingredients can make all the difference. Here are 7 essential tips to ensure your workshops are a success: 1. Start with a Warm-Up Activity: Set the scene with a simple, engaging warm-up activity. This helps break the ice and ensures everyone feels comfortable and ready to participate. A relaxed atmosphere encourages creativity and collaboration. 2. Clear Objectives: Start with a clear understanding of what you want to achieve. What are the desired outcomes of the workshop? This will guide your design and keep the session focused. 3. Active Participation: Create opportunities for all participants to contribute. Use techniques like breakouts or interactive tools to keep everyone engaged. 4. Structured Activities: Plan activities that are purposeful and align with your objectives. Techniques like empathy mapping, ideation, or prototyping can help generate creative ideas and solutions. 5. Timekeeping: Use a timer to stay on track. Time management is key to maintaining energy levels and ensuring all activities are covered without feeling rushed. A timer helps keep discussions focused and ensures you respect participants' time. 6. Diverse Perspectives: Bring together diverse viewpoints to enrich the conversation. This can lead to new ideas, uncovering blind spots, and achieving more robust outcomes. 7. Encourage Reflection: Give participants time to reflect on what they’ve learned and share their insights. This helps consolidate learning and ensures actionable takeaways. At DalRae Solutions, we use these ingredients to facilitate workshops that foster creativity, alignment, and real business impact. Are you ready to take your business to the next level? Let’s connect! Reach out to our sales team and explore how we can help empower your business! #SAPAppHausNetwork #DalRaeWay #DesignThinking #StrategyDevelopment

Bad working practices have a high cost! 📈 They might be outdated or they might just be... bad! When we keep using these ways of working, here's what ends up happening: ❌ Organisations struggle to adapt to change ❌ Resources and time are wasted ❌ Opportunities are missed ❌ Slower decision-making ❌ Problems persist or go unresolved Luckily, we've got the antidote - DESIGN THINKING and VISUAL THINKING! Design Thinking is about putting the HUMAN at the centre of all problem-solving to come up with the best solutions there are. Visual facilitation is about being able to visualise your work in simple pictures - that anyone (yes - even YOU) can draw and understand. Here’s what happens when you combine them... ✅ Build what people really WANT ✅ Think up outside-the-box IDEAS ✅ Solve problems FAST ✅ SAVE time and money ✅ Create NEXT-LEVEL solutions We've teamed up with Solved Together to bring you a 2.5 hour hands-on remote workshop “Design Thinking x Visual Thinking: Tired to Fired Up”, where we will explore both disciplines by walking you through the process of designing your own product, and more! 🍏 Marcus de Vale 🍏 and Rujuta Singh are excited to be your trainers on Tuesday 25th June at 4.30pm UK Time - head to the link below to find out more and sign up 🌟 Psst! You don't need to be able to draw 😉 https://lnkd.in/e_d_a48Z #designthinking #visualthinking #vizthink #workshop

Workshop facilitation tips! Continuing to dive into a topic I started earlier 💪 🙋♀️ A question I often get asked if how to make used that you have enough time in a workshop and how to plan out the time an activity will take. ⏲️ Time allocation is something that will come with experience. The more workshops you run, the better you are at estimating. 👯♀️ No matter how experienced you are, sometimes activities will take longer than expected. Or the group dynamic and people in the session will mean it needs to be adjusted. Workshops and facilitation is a real art form. ⏳ I often suggest that people over estimate activities, this will allow for discussion time and mean you can ask follow up questions. You’ll then be able to ensure you hit your workshop objectives too. #design #facilitation #servicedesign #productdesign #uiux #uxdesign #designer #designeducation #education

Back after a break: #MruMeaningfulDesign [15] : Thoughtful Journey !!!   All my posts derive inspiration from real-life situations and discussions. A recent instance involved presenting a concept demo to management, sparking in-depth discussions within the team that prompted me to delve into the details.    Crafting a design display, effectively conveying, or translating thoughts into meaningful collateral, is truly an art. My team and I embody this skill to the fullest. In the realm of design thinking, the "Prototype" phase holds key significance. One can submit an appropriate prototype based on the context, medium, purpose, and outcome of their project.    On a related note, I recently concluded a batch of design exploration, which served as a form of personal coaching for some familiar faces. To my delight, this effort resulted in being recognized once again as the "Star Trainer of The Month" – a pleasant outcome that brings a smile to my face 😊 #Design #designthinking #training #creative #art #DeignOps

Curious how #Design #Workshops can improve your work process to deliver #BetterResults? Join me on the 12th of December, as I host a #MasterClass with the IxDF - Interaction Design Foundation on this very topic! You'll learn: * A deep understanding of the value of workshops and their crucial role in the collaborative design process. * Insights into the multifaceted role of the facilitator, before, during, and after workshops. * A proven framework for planning, organizing, and executing impactful workshops. * Practical tips and tricks to ensure your workshop's success. Strategies for optimizing your approach for online and remote workshops. Why wait until tomorrow, when you can register today? 😜 https://lnkd.in/gnHXcqnm

Elevate Your Problem-Solving Skills with Design Thinking! Excited to announce our upcoming Design Thinking Workshop on June 29th! For most of us, Design carries a connotation in our mind that it is something to do with someone being artistic or creative or 'designing'. If you have ever solved a problem in your life - regardless of its complexity and scale, then you are already a designer. I aim to provide an experience of the design process as this process is iterative, emphasizes on the 'alone-together' framework of working collaboratively, and a structured approach towards solving problems. By experiencing and undergoing this process one is able to form a design thinking mindset which then becomes a toolkit or a framework to tackle any problem especially even larger complex social issues and personal issues. So if you are a student or a working professional, an aspiring entrepreneur or a corporate executive, this workshop is for everyone who wants to expand their problem solving toolkit and develop and nurture their creative and critical thinking skills all the while having fun. This workshop will ignite your creativity and enhance your problem-solving abilities.  Limited slots available, so register now and experience hands-on learning with real-world applications. Why Attend? Hands-On Learning: Transform theory into practical skills you can use immediately. Expert Guidance: Learn from experienced facilitators passionate about design thinking. Networking Opportunities: Connect with a diverse group of professionals. Real-World Applications: Work on actual projects and challenges. Gain Valuable Skills: Innovative Mindset: Develop a creative approach to everyday problems. Practical Tools: Access and utilize design thinking techniques. Enhanced Problem-Solving: Learn systematic and creative methods for tackling challenges. Increased Empathy: Understand user needs deeply for effective solutions. Workshop Features: Comprehensive Curriculum: Dive into all stages of design thinking, from empathy to testing. Interactive Sessions: Engage in brainstorming, prototyping, and feedback loops. Resource Materials: Receive worksheets, templates, and reading materials for continued learning. Collaborative Environment: Work in teams on real-world design scenarios. Date: June 29th, 2024 Location: Jashn Studios, Bandra West ⏰ Time: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Register Now: https://bit.ly/zjdtw2906 Don't miss this opportunity to transform your skills and mindset. Secure your spot today – limited slots available! #DesignThinking #Innovation #Creativity #ProblemSolving #Workshops #ProfessionalDevelopment #Empathy #Networking #RealWorldSkills #RegisterNow