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Home / Sessions / The Art and Science of Workshop Design

The Art and Science of Workshop Design

IAC 2021 /

Cost

$200 USD

Time(s)

April 20, 2021
2:00 PM to 5:00 PM CT

This workshop meets 2 times.

  • April 20, 2021 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM EDT
  • April 21, 2021 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM EDT

Location

Virtual

Description

A well-designed workshop is an excellent, people-centered way to get work done. Whether it’s a participatory session that replaces a standard meeting, or a full-blown, multi-day experience, workshops get teams and clients to explore options, analyze alternatives, and come to consensus.

But successful workshops don’t happen by accident. They’re time- and resource-intensive to plan and deliver, and require particular skills and knowledge. UX practitioners are uniquely positioned to develop and facilitate excellent workshop experiences. However, workshop approaches and how-tos aren’t often taught in school or on the job. Furthermore, in today’s still-telescoping timeline for necessary social distancing, the ability to facilitate work getting done through collaborative online sessions is more important than ever.

The Art and Science of Workshop Design gives participants a flexible framework for building and facilitating workshops. Starting with the foundations of workshop design and delivery, participants will learn how to leverage design thinking methods to create collaborative sessions that are fun and effective. They will explore design activities, tools, and techniques, and develop their unique facilitator’s stance. Participants will have the hands-on opportunity to create and practice leading an exercise, and will leave with a customized Action Plan to take the next step – which may be leading a working session on the job or delivering a workshop at a future conference.

The workshop is itself structured as a template that models and demonstrates workshop design. The presenters will peel back the layers of each component to show how it has been built, how it contributes to workshop goals, and how it can be adapted to different types of meetings and groups. This layering also enables the workshop to offer value to participants at all levels of experience: the foundations and main components of workshop design will be made clear for beginners, and each topic and activity can be engaged at either higher or deeper levels.

Participants will receive a workbook that they will use throughout the day and which will be a valuable resource as they plan and carry out their own workshop sessions. Workshop boxes will be sent to advance registrants, while downloadable materials (followed up by shipped workshop boxes) will be provided for last-minute participants.

Topic highlights include:

  • The narrative arc of a workshop
  • Establishing the participation contract
  • Deep dive into roles and skills (vision, logistics, activity design, facilitation)
  • Adapting and creating workshop exercises
  • Managing participation (opening and closing the “fourth wall,” engaging all voices, handling challenging personas)
  • Well-Being in the workshop (healthy snacks, physical movement, centering)
  • Creating an action plan for your own next workshop

Sessions will be recorded and made available to registered attendees.


Sign in now to access workshop resources.

Sponsor IAC

We’re looking for organizations who share our commitment to building and sustaining programs that drive a more inclusive industry. Learn more on the Sponsor IAC23 page or contact us directly at info@theiaconference.com for more information.

Thanks to this year’s sponsors!

Logo for sponsor Optimal Workshop
Platinum sponsor
Optimal Workshop
Logo for sponsor Factor Firm
Gold sponsor
Factor Firm
Logo for sponsor Last Call Media
Silver sponsor
Last Call Media
Logo for sponsor Design for Context
Scholarship sponsor
Design for Context

Logo for sponsor A Book Apart
In-Kind sponsor
A Book Apart
Logo for sponsor Balsamiq
In-Kind sponsor
Balsamiq
Logo for sponsor MURAL
In-Kind sponsor
MURAL
Logo for sponsor Rosenfeld Media
In-Kind sponsor
Rosenfeld Media
Logo for sponsor UX Camp DC
Community sponsor
UX Camp DC
Logo for sponsor World IA Day
Community sponsor
World IA Day

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