Duration: 2-2.5 hours

Participants: Cross-functional team (designers, developers, product managers, stakeholders)

Purpose: Identify key design tensions, map your current position, and develop principles that acknowledge and navigate these tensions

WORKSHOP FLOW

01 Introduction (15 minutes)

• Explain workshop purpose: Identifying and navigating design tensions

• Define "design tensions" as opposing but valid design values

• Emphasize that tensions represent trade-offs, not right/wrong choices

• Share examples of common design tensions (simplicity vs. flexibility, etc.)

• Set expectations for constructive discussion

02 Tension Brainstorming (25 minutes)

• Full group brainstorm of tensions relevant to your product/design context

• Prompt with questions:

  • "What design values sometimes conflict in our work?"

  • "Where do we face difficult trade-offs?"

  • "What design debates keep recurring?"

• Document all potential tensions

• Group similar tensions

• Prioritize the most significant tensions

03 Tension Mapping - Current State (30 minutes)

• Select 5-7 most important tensions for detailed mapping

• Create a spectrum for each tension with opposing values at each end

• Each participant individually marks where they believe your current design approach falls on each spectrum

• Discuss areas of agreement and divergence

• Create a team consensus mark showing current position

04 Ideal Position Discussion (30 minutes)

• For each tension, discuss:

  • Where would we ideally position ourselves on this spectrum?

  • Does it depend on context or user type?

  • What would moving in either direction require?

  • What are the risks of being too far toward either extreme?

• Mark ideal position on each tension spectrum

• Document rationale for each positioning decision

05 Break (10 minutes)

06 Principle Development (45 minutes)

• Based on positioning decisions, develop principles that acknowledge tensions

• For each key tension:

  • Draft a principle that articulates your chosen position

  • Explain how this principle navigates the tension

  • Provide examples of applying this principle in different contexts

  • Test the principle with hypothetical design scenarios

• Focus on principles that acknowledge both values while providing clear direction

07 Next Steps and Closing (15 minutes)

• Review developed principles

• Discuss how these principles will guide future design decisions

• Plan for refinement and integration

• Assign follow-up responsibilities

REQUIRED TOOLS & MATERIALS

Physical Workshop Tools

• Large whiteboard or wall space

• Tension spectrum templates (large format)

• Sticky notes (multiple colors)

• Markers and pens

• Dot stickers for voting/marking

• Masking tape for creating spectrums

• Camera for documenting

Digital Workshop Tools (for remote/hybrid sessions)

• Video conferencing platform

• Digital whiteboard (Miro, FigJam, Mural)

• Templates for tension spectrums

• Shared document for principle drafting

• Polling/voting mechanisms

PREPARATION MATERIALS

• List of common design tensions as examples

• Design scenarios for testing principles

• Examples of principles that navigate tensions

• Tension spectrum templates

WORKSHOP DELIVERABLES

Immediate Deliverables (Day of Workshop)

1. Tensions List: Comprehensive inventory of relevant design tensions

2. Tension Mappings: Visual representations of current and ideal positions

3. Position Rationales: Documentation of reasoning behind positioning decisions

4. Draft Principles: Initial principles that address key tensions

Post-Workshop Deliverables (1-3 days after)

1. Tensions Analysis Document including:

   • Prioritized tensions with detailed descriptions

   • Current and ideal positioning with rationales

   • Contextual factors that influence positioning

   • Risks and mitigation strategies for extreme positions

2. Design Principles Document including:

   • Refined principle statements addressing tensions

   • Explanations of how each principle navigates specific tensions

   • Application guidelines for different contexts

   • Example scenarios showing principle application

3. Implementation Roadmap outlining:

   • How principles will be integrated into design processes

   • Communication plan for sharing with wider organization

   • Process for handling exceptions or contextual applications

WORKSHOP FACILITATION REQUIREMENTS

• Primary facilitator comfortable with managing differing perspectives

• Visual documenter to capture mappings and discussions

• Timekeeper to maintain momentum

• Space arrangement that supports spectrum visualization