Workshops

Increasingly large and complex data sets, fewer resources, and short timelines pose unique challenges to researchers. To over come obstacles of scale, complexity, and velocity, we propose two techniques — data triangulation and process scaling. We will explain how we’ve used these techniques, discuss lessons learned, & through interactive exercises, participants will learn how to apply these techniques to their own work.

How can prototyping contribute to the design of work practices – a core subject of organizational ethnography? Changes in organizations often come in a piecemeal fashion (a new social media channel added, the held desk outsourced, a new client engagement strategy launched). However meaningful transformation requires participants themselves to bring together and reintegrate the parts of their practice that will change with the parts of their practice that will remain the same. Through facilitated small group exercises, we invite participants to share approaches and examine the challenges to fostering this re-integration of practice through prototyping practices in a way that goes beyond the simple testing of specific constituent parts.

Experience maps are accessible, compelling, graphic depictions of user experiences, but they can be so much more. Attendees will learn when to use which maps and why through discussion culminating in a fast-paced map-off.

Explore the archetypes in Shambhala Buddhism as a path from idea to action. In this creative, interactive workshop we'll challenge you to explore who you are as an ethnographer, how your organization deals with change and the path to more creative, evolutionary (or even revolutionary) action. Turn ethnography into a form of warriorship in the world.

Ethnography has become a popular method of uncovering insights about people and their experiences by identifying consumer pain points based on observing current behaviors. However, inspiring relevant innovation requires an understanding of deeper internal feelings – something that cannot be observed. This workshop will expose attendees to participatory design, a method that enables people to express and define their current and desired experiences. By uncovering people’s attitudes, motivations, emotions, and aspirations, we can begin to understand and design for future experiences.