![Goodbye Pointless Workshops!](/db/images/opinion/pauescofet__design_thinking_workshop_scene_3_people_casual_wear_866cd534-30f9-4e4b-8647-8f1ed15f15df.webp)
Opinion
Goodbye Pointless Workshops!
Posted
14 January 2024
Have you ever found yourself in a workshop discussing a project where the outcome was as predictable as the ending of a Hollywood movie? Ever wondered why on earth you're there, debating the obvious when a simple "yes" or "no" would suffice? Well, welcome to the captivating world of unnecessary workshops.
Let's be blunt: in the realm of product development, the concept of co-creation sounds fantastic. But honestly, there are moments when it feels like someone is trying to turn a straightforward corporate website into a masterpiece of aerospace engineering.
Take, for instance, the creation of a website for an industrial company. If the client hands you a plan so clear that even your grandma could understand it, do you really need a workshop (or even a design sprint!) to discover and define what's as clear as tap water?
Here's the crux of the matter: in these situations, workshops can become more useless than an umbrella in a hurricane. Instead of adding value, they end up overshadowing obvious solutions. The result? Projects that turn into a kind of digital Frankenstein, where the obvious disguises itself as innovation, and common sense is relegated to a dark corner.
And you know what's worse? Too often, the budget goes down the drain along with effectiveness. Workshops can be like those friends dragging you to spend money on things you don't need. In some cases, the low budget left for the project ends up yielding solutions more mediocre than a pineapple pizza.
Not every project needs a workshop. Sometimes, common sense is the most underrated superpower in product development.
But not all is lost. Here are some suggestions to break free from this vicious cycle:
- Evaluate the appropriateness of the workshop: Before organizing a workshop, ask yourself honestly if you really need it. Is the project so clear that you could explain it in a meme? Then, perhaps, the workshop is a waste of time.
- Moderate the right way, please: If you decide to go with the workshop, be the master of ceremonies for common sense. Prevent the obvious from stealing the spotlight and keep the focus on real solutions, not digital unicorns.
Not every project needs a workshop. Sometimes, common sense is the most underrated superpower in product development. Unleash it, and you'll see how your next project soars higher than any unnecessary brainstorming!