Discuss: Get Out from Behind the Curtain

by Sarah B. Nelson

1 Those Large Ambiguous Problems Keep Coming

When I read that you considered yourself an introvert, I was surprised! Extroverts aren’t always the best facilitators though, and this article helped remind me. Also an introvert, I’m responsible for cultivating ideas and sometimes facilitating sessions to help dig a way through ambiguous problems.

You stressed a good point, that we need to honestly convey our belief in everyone’s ability to solve problems. My team needs to know how valuable their ideas are and a session with potential can descend into a boring, fruitless meeting when there’s lack of respect between everyone.

Thanks!

posted at 08:52 am on September 11, 2007 by Kevin Davison

2 Sounds like expensive way to settle arguments

Design sessions are great at solving design problems but using sessions to settle office politics sounds awfully expensive.

With so many people attending one might fall to
“A camel is a horse designed by committee” -trap.

Luckily you gave sound advice how to properly plan and execute work sessions to get real benefits from them.

posted at 10:37 am on September 11, 2007 by Lasse Larvanko

3 An example of why I keep reading ALA

It’s articles like that one that keep me coming back to ALA. Thank you.

posted at 11:10 am on September 11, 2007 by Oliver Bertschinger

4 Great great article!

Im new to this blog, and i’ll keep coming.

posted at 02:30 pm on September 11, 2007 by Fernando Duenas

5 Get Out from Behind the Curtain

Sarah I want to thank You for really great article it was great time reading! Now I know the basics so I can plan my first work session. Regards

posted at 03:12 pm on September 11, 2007 by Tom Black

6 Key point: avoid endless review cycles

Sarah, you nicely emphasize how work sessions can avoid endless review cycles. I think that’s the biggest benefit of work sessions, especially when working on larger projects where there are many business “owners” involved. You’ve reminded me to use this approach in an upcoming site restructuring and you presented some great guidelines for work session success. Thanks for the article.

posted at 03:27 pm on September 11, 2007 by Steve Fleckenstein

7 Excellent article!

Your article is useful, well-founded, inspiring and practical. Thanks a lot!

posted at 05:45 pm on September 11, 2007 by Enrique Stanziola

8 inclusion is key

The more you can include your client(s) in the process the better. If they have ideas you think are inappropriate to the project, work to turn those ideas into something positive rather than simply dismissing them. You, and the client, will be happier in the end.

posted at 06:24 pm on September 11, 2007 by Scott Lenger

9 Review Cycles

I think it’s best to agree upon the number of review cycles upfront. The better the client delivers the specification of what he wants, the more he can concentrate on the designers work within the reviews.

posted at 07:00 pm on September 11, 2007 by Adam Kay