Born out of necessity, this Workshop Planning Canvas has become my go-to tool for collaborating with stakeholders to uncover the vision, goals, and practical needs behind every session.
I always start with one essential question: “At the end of the workshop, what would wow you?” From there, we work through the canvas together—aligning on purpose, outcomes, and structure. It keeps the process focused, collaborative, and primed for success.
The workshops I design span the full Design Thinking journey—and beyond—including Kickoff, Discover, Design, Prototyping, and Alignment. Here are a few of my favorite tools used across different phases:
• Kickoff: Golden Thread
A one-paragraph user story that paints a picture of success after launch. I picked this up during an Apple app-building workshop, and it’s been a game-changer for setting the tone.
• Discover: Empathy Maps
A quick and powerful canvas for stepping into the user’s world. It’s simple, yet it ensures we keep the user at the heart of everything.
• Design: Creativity Matrix
A chart that helps generate and organize bold ideas. It sparks divergent thinking while keeping teams grounded in workshop goals. I learned this through the LUMA Design Thinking certification program.
• Prototyping: Skits
Acting out solutions brings energy and emotion to the process. Skits help participants connect with ideas on a deeper level and surface insights faster.
• Alignment: Affinity Circle
A lively icebreaker that builds connection. Participants form a circle, and someone says something about themselves—like “I love rollercoasters.” Everyone who agrees moves to a new spot. It’s simple, fun, and instantly creates warmth and camaraderie.