The Design Difference: Using Design to Conduct a Problem-Solving Workshop

This article describes the process of working with a diverse team, where not everyone at the table is a designer.

http://www.good.is/post/the-design-difference-using-design-to-conduct-a-problem-solving-workshop/

Relevant to us? outlines a method of working with diverse people

“The timeframes gave great guidance for narrowing lofty ideas into what would be possible to achieve. Each group was given about 30 minutes in which to tackle a specific combination, then we’d be asked to switch to another assigned category and timeframe. This prevented potential burnout from banging our heads against the same problem all day.

The format of the brainstorming, or ideation, exercises moved from an unedited, uncensored burst of ideas (divergent thinking), into more actionable, physically-oriented solutions (convergent thinking). Each group began the brainstorming period by layering a page with quick ideas—or pieces of ideas—jotted on Post-its. Over time, common themes or similar trains of thought were grouped together and built upon, and the best three to five ideas were drafted into more specific concepts.”