Collaborative Improv: Building Better Products Through Improvisation

Flexibility within project dynamics is a key to success – be it adapting to project dynamics, client needs, or interpersonal relationships. Improvisational theater offers many constructs to “go with the flow” and build on our teammates ideas, successes, and even where we stumble.

This workshop teaches the foundations of improv and provides direct correlations to UX research, design, and collaboration. Practitioners of all skill levels are welcome, and no previous performing experience is required.

The goals are to use active listening and body language through improv as a way to improve our collaboration and product design. Different people sense things differently and our perceptions craft our reality. How might improv support this collaboration across information architecture throughout product design. Product design does not happen in a silo with a single individual or skillset making all the decisions.

Improvisational theater brings performers from all walks of life together in the creation of something unique, fun, and enjoyable. By adapting these lessons to product design, we can better collaborate across UX, design, content, development, our businesses, and users.