Manifesto Development
Overview
This exercise transforms the insights gathered throughout the workshop into bold, clear manifesto statements that authentically represent your design philosophy. The process moves from understanding what makes effective manifesto statements to collaborative drafting and refinement through peer feedback.
Duration
90 minutes total:
Introduction: 15 minutes
Small Group Drafting: 45 minutes
Gallery Walk and Feedback: 30 minutes
Materials Needed
Large sticky notes or poster paper for draft statements
Regular sticky notes for feedback
Markers in various colors
Dot stickers for voting (5-8 per participant)
Handouts with manifesto statement examples
Printouts of key themes identified in earlier exercises
Template worksheets for statement development
Exercise Flow
01 Introduction to Manifesto Writing (15 minutes)
Review Characteristics of Powerful Manifesto Statements
The facilitator should explain that effective manifesto statements:
Are declarative and assertive – They take a clear position
Use active, precise verbs that convey conviction
Balance philosophy with practicality – They inspire but also guide
Create emotional resonance while maintaining authenticity
Are memorable and concise enough to be easily recalled
Are distinctive to your team's unique approach, not generic design wisdom
Embrace tension rather than avoiding complexity
Would lead to different decisions than their opposites would
Share 3-5 examples of strong manifesto statements from notable design organizations, explaining what makes each effective.
Explain Format and Structure Options
Present different approaches to manifesto statements:
The Bold Declaration: Direct statements of belief
"We believe design should challenge convention."
"We design for humans, not users."
The Principle-Action Format: Connect beliefs to behaviors
"We embrace constraints as creative catalysts."
"We prioritize clarity over cleverness."
The Metaphorical Approach: Use imagery to convey philosophy
"Our design is a conversation, not a monologue."
"We craft doorways, not destinations."
Explain that each statement should be:
Short enough to be memorable (typically one sentence)
Clear enough to guide decisions
Bold enough to be distinctive
Authentic to your team's actual beliefs
Review potential structures for the overall manifesto:
A series of numbered statements
Thematic groupings under headings
A narrative flow from foundational to specific
A visual/typographic hierarchy showing relationships
02 Small Group Drafting (45 minutes)
Break into Groups
Divide participants into groups of 3-4 people
Aim for cross-functional representation in each group
Provide each group with prepared worksheets and materials
03 Draft Manifesto Statements
Instruct groups to:
Review the synthesis of themes from previous exercises (5 min)
Look at insights from provocations, archaeology, future vision, etc.
Identify 3-5 core themes they want to address
Brainstorm potential phrasings for each theme (15 min)
Generate multiple options for each theme
Push for bold, distinctive language
Avoid generic design platitudes
Refine to 3-5 strongest statements (15 min)
Select the most powerful expression of each theme
Refine language for clarity and impact
Eliminate jargon and unnecessary words
Test statements (10 min)
Would this statement lead to different decisions than its opposite?
Is this truly distinctive to our team/organization?
Would we stand behind this statement even when it's difficult?
Can we provide a concrete example of this in practice?
Prepare final statements for sharing
Write each statement clearly on a separate sheet/poster
Include a brief explanation of what the statement means in practice
Add one concrete example of how this would guide a decision
Facilitator Support
During this phase, the facilitator should:
Check in with each group to ensure they're making progress
Ask challenging questions to push for clarity and distinctiveness
Help groups that are stuck with prompts or examples
Keep time and give 15, 5, and 2-minute warnings
04 Gallery Walk and Feedback (30 minutes)
Post Draft Statements
Have each group post their statements around the room
Arrange by group or by theme if patterns emerge
Ensure adequate space between statements for gathering and notes
Review and Feedback
Silent Review (10 min)
Participants walk around reviewing all statements
Provide sticky notes for written feedback
Participants leave notes with:
What they like about specific statements
Questions or concerns
Suggestions for improvement
05 Guided Discussion (10 min)
Facilitator highlights common themes and notable differences
Identifies potentially overlapping statements
Discusses any gaps in the collective statements
Points out particularly strong or distinctive statements
06 Dot Voting Process (5 min)
Each participant receives 5-8 dot stickers
Participants place dots on statements they find most:
Authentic to the team's beliefs
Distinctive from generic design statements
Likely to guide real decisions
Inspiring and memorable
Participants can place multiple dots on a single statement if they feel strongly
07 Results Review (5 min)
Count votes for each statement
Identify the top 7-10 statements based on votes
Note any key themes missing from top statements
Discuss next steps for refinement
Facilitation Tips
Push for boldness: Many teams default to safe, generic statements. Encourage participants to take clear positions even if they might be controversial.
Avoid platitudes: Challenge statements that any design team would agree with. Look for what makes your approach unique.
Connect to evidence: Remind participants to ground statements in insights from earlier exercises rather than creating statements from scratch.
Manage scope: A final manifesto typically includes 5-9 statements. Too many become difficult to remember and dilute impact.
Balance inspiration and guidance: The best statements both inspire and provide practical direction for decisions.
Common Challenges and Solutions
Challenge: Generic Statements
Solution: Ask "Would any designer disagree with this?" If not, push for more specificity or a stronger position.
Challenge: Overly Complex Statements
Solution: Challenge the group to express the same idea in fewer words or simpler language.
Challenge: Disconnected Statements
Solution: Return to the synthesis of themes and ensure statements connect to insights from earlier exercises.
Challenge: Lack of Consensus
Solution: Use dot voting to identify statements with broadest support. For closely divided issues, consider crafting a statement that acknowledges the tension.