How To Design Workshop

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Hey, I’m Kushagra.

If you’re new to design and want to get better at running groups—or if you lead a team and want to level up how they work and vibe—this one’s for you.

Most teams sit back and absorb information, but the best way to learn is by doing. Design workshops aren’t just meetings; they bring minds together, spark ideas, and help us achieve goals.

Let’s dive in and make it happen.

Design workshops are a game-changer.

They bring minds together, spark cool ideas, and help us crush our goals. I’ve run a bunch, so trust me—when done right, they hit different.

Blair Fraser, the Design Lead at UserTesting, recently shared some great insights about running an effective design critique in a blog. They explained why design critiques are valuable and how to set one up, run it smoothly, and lead confidently. Plus, they covered what to do when things don’t go as planned, how to keep improving, and how to make the most of the feedback process.

Doing stuff sticks way more than just chillin’ and takin’ it in. Like, readin’ this?

Cool, but in two weeks, you’ll prob keep just 10% of it (oops, my bad!). We hold on to:

• 20% of what we hear.

• 30% of what we see

• 50% of what we see and hear

• 70% of what we say and write

• 90% of what we do

So yeah, the more we do, the more we know—facts.

So let’s dive in and learn how to run a design group that hits from Blair Fraser.

Blair is a design pro who helps teams solve tough stuff with teamwork, smart plans, and user-first thinking. He’s a lead at UserTesting, where he helps brands talk to real folks, grab key insights, and make moves that matter. With 13+ years in money, start-ups, brands, and L&D, he’s all about group work, smart plans, and dope products.

When he’s not designin’, he’s keepin’ it real on The Imperfect Designer, a Substack where he talks about self-doubt, the grind, and how to make cool stuff without stressin’ too much.

No-BS Guide

Workshops are a cheat code for teams. They bring folks close, spark wild ideas, and help make moves fast. But let’s be real—some are a mess. Loud. Chaotic. A big yawn.

I’ve run tons of them, and not all were smooth. Some flopped hard.

But hey, that’s how you learn! The trick? Plan well, stay chill, and keep folks hooked. Do that, and boom—you’ve got a workshop that hits.

💡 Why it works

Get on the same page – Ditch the long chats and dry emails. A workshop pulls all the big brains in one spot to vibe and plan.

Boost fresh ideas – When done right, they spark bold, smart, and weird (but cool) takes. The best stuff comes when all voices count.

Speed up moves – No more “Let’s circle back.” A good workshop sorts the “what next” in real time.

Fix real probs – Clear plans + smart ways to solve = no more stress.

The plan is key. A workshop with no plan? Yikes. Let’s not. Keep it tight, fun, and clear. Get prepped, set the tone, and make sure it’s a ride, not a drag.

🔥 Start with a Clear Goal

What’s the point of this sesh? No fluff—think of the end first.

What do you need from this? Lock in the why before the how.

Make sure your boss, team, or client vibes with it. A clear goal = no time wasted.

Is this workshop to:

✅ Kick off a big thing?
✅ Get your crew on the same page?
✅ Find fresh ways to grow?
✅ Dig deep into data?
✅ Are you brainstorming dope ideas?
✅ Make hard calls?

No matter the task, set the goal first. That way, you keep things sharp and don’t lose track.

⏳ Plan Smart, Not Hard

Stuff will go left – Folks show up late. Talks drag. Chaos sneaks in. Plan for it. Add extra time so you don’t stress.

Set time blocks – Use a timer. No one likes a sesh that drags. Keep it fast, fun, and fresh.

Breaks = A must – Give folks time to chill, but be slick with it. Say “Back at 14:12” instead of “14:15” – trust me, they’ll show up on time.

Prep in advance – Shoot the plan out before the workshop. A little heads-up = way fewer blank stares.

Two plans, one sesh – I keep two lists:
A tight, clean one for folks in the room.
A beefed-up, messy one just for me. Notes, backup plans, and cheat codes are included.

🌟 Make It a Vibe

A good sesh isn’t just about work—it’s about flow. Make it fun. Make it feel worth it. My goal? I want folks to leave thinking: Damn, that was the best thing I did this month.

Be warm, be real – Smile. Bring good energy.
Say names, say thanks – A “Yo, glad you’re here” goes a long way.
Hype up the room – If they’re low, bring them up.
Give props – When folks share, let ‘em know they nailed it.
Fun snacks only – No dry, sad stuff. Give ‘em a treat.
Mix in games – Laughs = smooth talks. Keep the mood light.

A good vibe makes a good sesh. Run it right, and folks will want to come back.

🛠 Keep It Simple

New to this? Don’t go wild. Start small. A quick 30-60 min session is all you need. No need for a long, drain-your-soul kind of thing.

Good news? You don’t need to build from scratch. Tons of free, ready-made tools out there. Just grab one and roll with it.

As you get the hang of it, you’ll tweak, mix, and make your own style. Think of it like cooking—you learn the basics, then start to freestyle.

Want ideas? Peep the list at the end of this piece.

🏡 Pick Where to Run It

IRL Sesh? Keep it chill, open, and stocked with the right gear—boards, pens, sticky notes, and all that good stuff.

Online Sesh? Use Zoom, Miro, or FigJam. Keep it short, throw in breaks, and don’t let folks zone out.

Hybrid? A bit tricky, but not a lost cause. Make sure remote peeps don’t feel like ghosts. Good mics, clear vids, and tasks that work for both sides.

🏁 Kick It Off Right

Once folks roll in, it’s go time. Start strong. Let ‘em know why they’re here and what you’ll do together. A clear plan = no stress, no “Wait, what’s this about?” vibes.

Ask the crew: “What do you wanna get out of this?” This locks in focus, makes folks feel seen, and keeps everyone on the same page.

Before diving in, set the mood. Let ‘em know:

It might feel fast, and that’s cool.
You don’t need ideas yet—trust the flow.
Feeling weird or unsure? All good.

A quick vibe check makes folks chill and keeps things open.

📜 Lay Down the Rules

A few key rules help things run smoothly. Keep ‘em short, clear, and up where all can see.

No phones, no pings – Unless you need it, stash it. No doom-scrolling mid-sesh. If you gotta step out, do it.

No bad vibes – All takes are fair game. No “that won’t work” talk. We hype all ideas here.

Solo work counts – Not all great thoughts come from loud talks. Let folks write, think, and drop their takes before we go in. Keeps it fair.

Set the rules, set the tone. Now? Time to cook. 🚀

🧊 Ice Ice Baby – Don’t Skip the Icebreaker

No cap—icebreakers work. Doesn’t matter if it’s the CEO or the intern; a good icebreaker melts the awkward vibes and gets folks in the zone. Keep it short, fun, and on theme. If it’s a sketching sesh, toss in a quick draw. If it’s a deep dive, pick a chill trust-builder.

🏁 Stay on Track with a "Car Park"

People love to go off track (who doesn’t?). Keep a “Car Park” (aka a sticky note zone) for ideas that don’t fit right now. No one feels shut down, and you don’t lose gems in the chaos.

🔥 Get All Voices in the Mix

If one loud voice is hogging the room, pull others in. Call out quieter folks by name and ask for their take. Keep the balance right—the best ideas come from everyone.

✅ Dot Voting = Instant Group Picks

Got a ton of ideas? Let folks dot vote (stickers, marks, whatever). No debates and no bias, just pure signals on what clicks with the crew. Plus, it gets folks up and moving.

📈 Start Strong, End Stronger

The start sets the vibe. The end sticks in their head.

Kick off with energy – Icebreaker, quick win, whatever gets ‘em hyped.
Wrap with a bang – Sum up wins, shout out folks, and lock in next steps.

🎤 Own the Room (No Ego Needed)

🔹 You’re not the main act—you’re the guide.
🔹 No one cares about your resume, just your vibe.
🔹 You don’t need big ideas, just the right space for others to cook.
🔹 If you need design input, invite another designer—don’t try to do both.

🌀 When It All Goes Sideways (Because It Will)

No plan survives the first contact. Be ready to flex.

✅ Big ego in the room? Keep it chill. Redirect convo, call on others.
✅ One person won’t shut up? Keep it polite but firm.
✅ Is the boss in the mix? Set rules up front—no idea is too small.
✅ Do people dip out? Keep rolling; don’t pause the game.
✅ Time’s running out? Have “must-do” vs. “nice-to-have” stuff baked in.
✅ Overrun? Add buffer time from the jump—better to end early than late.
✅ Key folks missing? Adapt. Use who you’ve got.

⚡ Keep It Chill. Keep It Real

Workshops aren’t about perfection—they’re about momentum. Stay loose, listen hard, and roll with it. No matter what, you got this.

A workshop ain’t done when the room clears out. The real win? The moves made after. Don't ghost your sesh—follow up quickly, or folks will dip to the next big thing.

🔥 Lock It In, Keep It Moving

Sum it up – Drop a short, clear recap of what went down. What did y’all decide? What’s next? Hit send the same day so no one forgets.

Share the goods. Do you have sketches, notes, or big ideas? Make them easy to find. If it’s IRL, snap pics before folks tear it down.

Call the shots. If no one owns a task, it won’t get done. Be clear about who’s doing what and by when. There should be no loose ends.

Ask for real talk – What clicked? What flopped? Feedback = growth. Use it to level up for next time.

Bonus move: If it fits, leave up the sticky notes, sketches, and brain dumps for a bit. It sparks talk and lets folks see the magic.

🎢 Final Thoughts: Ride the Chaos

Workshops are messy—that’s the fun part. They’re not about perfection, they’re about progress. Stay loose, keep the focus, and roll with it. Make it dope, fun, and worth their time.

At the end of the day? Your workshop should be the one people actually wanna show up to.

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