MA Ideation Workshop Design
[Overview]
The Context
As part of my UX Design Master’s at Falmouth University, I led the planning and design of two tailored workshops to guide a cross-disciplinary team of UX Design and Interactive Game Design (IGD) students through structured project ideation. The challenge was to move from fragmented ideas to validated, user-centred briefs — combining rigour, creativity, and collaboration across disciplines.
The Context
As part of my UX Design Master’s at Falmouth University, I led the planning and design of two tailored workshops to guide a cross-disciplinary team of UX Design and Interactive Game Design (IGD) students through structured project ideation. The challenge was to move from fragmented ideas to validated, user-centred briefs — combining rigour, creativity, and collaboration across disciplines.
Problem Statement
Unstructured ideation stalled progress: The team’s early brainstorming lacked focus — ideas were solution-first and siloed, with no shared process or grounding in real user/player needs.
UX and IGD teams lacked a common language: UXD students leaned toward user needs, while IGD students suggested mechanics or genres without justification. The gap risked creating unfocused, unviable concepts.
We needed structured collaboration: Without a framework to guide thinking, prioritise ideas, or justify design choices, the team couldn’t confidently progress or present credible briefs for tutor feedback.
Problem Statement
Unstructured ideation stalled progress: The team’s early brainstorming lacked focus — ideas were solution-first and siloed, with no shared process or grounding in real user/player needs.
UX and IGD teams lacked a common language: UXD students leaned toward user needs, while IGD students suggested mechanics or genres without justification. The gap risked creating unfocused, unviable concepts.
We needed structured collaboration: Without a framework to guide thinking, prioritise ideas, or justify design choices, the team couldn’t confidently progress or present credible briefs for tutor feedback.
Skills Demonstrated
Workshop Design
Cross-Disciplinary Facilitation
Design Strategy
UX Process Leadership
Double Diamond Thinking
[Impact]
Dual Workshops Designed from Scratch
Created and structured two bespoke workshops — one for UXD problem-first ideation, and one for IGD player-centred concept development.
Frameworks Introduced to Deepen Thinking
Integrated Bartle Types, Self-Determination Theory, and Emotional Targeting to elevate game ideation beyond surface-level concepts.
Cross-Disciplinary Alignment Achieved
Fostered collaborative thinking across UXD and IGD, helping the team co-create grounded project briefs ready for tutor review.
[My Process]
1. Identifying the Need for Structured Facilitation
Recognised that early discussions were fragmented and feature-led.
Proposed a workshop-based approach grounded in the Double Diamond model.
Set goals: produce validated briefs, align disciplines, and build tutor-ready outputs.
1. Identifying the Need for Structured Facilitation
Recognised that early discussions were fragmented and feature-led.
Proposed a workshop-based approach grounded in the Double Diamond model.
Set goals: produce validated briefs, align disciplines, and build tutor-ready outputs.
2. Researching UX and IGD Methods
Reviewed UXD best practices for ideation and prioritisation.
Researched IGD ideation frameworks and player motivation models.
Selected relevant tools: Bartle Player Types, Self-Determination Theory, Emotional Targeting.
2. Researching UX and IGD Methods
Reviewed UXD best practices for ideation and prioritisation.
Researched IGD ideation frameworks and player motivation models.
Selected relevant tools: Bartle Player Types, Self-Determination Theory, Emotional Targeting.
3. Designing the Dual Workshop Structures UXD Workshop Flow:
UXD Workshop Flow:
Products people love → User groups → Problem brainstorming → Affinity mapping → Prioritisation → Brief creation.
IGD Workshop Flow:
Games people love → Player types → Needs/gaps brainstorming → Affinity mapping → Prioritisation → Game brief creation.
Design Thinking & Inclusion:
Both workshops were framed around diverging and converging thinking.
Used inclusive prompts to ensure all team members could engage, regardless of experience level.
3. Designing the Dual Workshop Structures UXD Workshop Flow:
UXD Workshop Flow:
Products people love → User groups → Problem brainstorming → Affinity mapping → Prioritisation → Brief creation.
IGD Workshop Flow:
Games people love → Player types → Needs/gaps brainstorming → Affinity mapping → Prioritisation → Game brief creation.
Design Thinking & Inclusion:
Both workshops were framed around diverging and converging thinking.
Used inclusive prompts to ensure all team members could engage, regardless of experience level.
4. Preparing Team & Resources
Created detailed workshop agendas and Miro boards with pre-built templates.
Wrote pre-work prompts and communications to build momentum.
Coordinated a Skills & Goals Audit to align team capabilities with project ideas.
Scheduled a tutor feedback session post-workshops to ensure early iteration.
4. Preparing Team & Resources
Created detailed workshop agendas and Miro boards with pre-built templates.
Wrote pre-work prompts and communications to build momentum.
Coordinated a Skills & Goals Audit to align team capabilities with project ideas.
Scheduled a tutor feedback session post-workshops to ensure early iteration.
[Key Learnings]
Tailor the Process to the People
Designing workshops that respected both UXD and IGD ways of thinking created more meaningful, inclusive collaboration.
Frameworks Elevate Ideation
Introducing models like Bartle Types gave the team a shared language and helped justify creative decisions with more depth and clarity.
Planning is Design Work
Workshop planning is a UX challenge in itself — understanding user needs (your team), defining goals, prototyping flows, and iterating based on feedback.
[Persona]
Jhon Roberts
Marketing Manager
Content
Age: 29
Location: New York City
Tech Proficiency: Moderate
Gender: Male
[Goal]
Quickly complete purchases without interruptions.
Trust the platform to handle her payment securely.
Access a seamless mobile shopping experience.
[Frustrations]
Long or confusing checkout processes.
Error messages that don’t explain the issue.
Poor mobile optimization that slows her down.
MA Ideation Workshop Design
[Overview]
The Context
As part of my UX Design Master’s at Falmouth University, I led the planning and design of two tailored workshops to guide a cross-disciplinary team of UX Design and Interactive Game Design (IGD) students through structured project ideation. The challenge was to move from fragmented ideas to validated, user-centred briefs — combining rigour, creativity, and collaboration across disciplines.
The Context
As part of my UX Design Master’s at Falmouth University, I led the planning and design of two tailored workshops to guide a cross-disciplinary team of UX Design and Interactive Game Design (IGD) students through structured project ideation. The challenge was to move from fragmented ideas to validated, user-centred briefs — combining rigour, creativity, and collaboration across disciplines.
Problem Statement
Unstructured ideation stalled progress: The team’s early brainstorming lacked focus — ideas were solution-first and siloed, with no shared process or grounding in real user/player needs.
UX and IGD teams lacked a common language: UXD students leaned toward user needs, while IGD students suggested mechanics or genres without justification. The gap risked creating unfocused, unviable concepts.
We needed structured collaboration: Without a framework to guide thinking, prioritise ideas, or justify design choices, the team couldn’t confidently progress or present credible briefs for tutor feedback.
Problem Statement
Unstructured ideation stalled progress: The team’s early brainstorming lacked focus — ideas were solution-first and siloed, with no shared process or grounding in real user/player needs.
UX and IGD teams lacked a common language: UXD students leaned toward user needs, while IGD students suggested mechanics or genres without justification. The gap risked creating unfocused, unviable concepts.
We needed structured collaboration: Without a framework to guide thinking, prioritise ideas, or justify design choices, the team couldn’t confidently progress or present credible briefs for tutor feedback.
Research Insights
Leading end-to-end research bridging academic rigour and product goals.
Defined scope, built a theory-informed process, and applied Human–AI Collaboration principles to uncover actionable design opportunities — all while collaborating cross-functionally with engineering.
Skills Demonstrated
Workshop Design
Workshop Design
Cross-Disciplinary Facilitation
Cross-Disciplinary Facilitation
Design Strategy
Design Strategy
UX Process Leadership
UX Process Leadership
[Impact]
Dual Workshops Designed from Scratch
Created and structured two bespoke workshops — one for UXD problem-first ideation, and one for IGD player-centred concept development.
Frameworks Introduced to Deepen Thinking
Integrated Bartle Types, Self-Determination Theory, and Emotional Targeting to elevate game ideation beyond surface-level concepts.
Cross-Disciplinary Alignment Achieved
Fostered collaborative thinking across UXD and IGD, helping the team co-create grounded project briefs ready for tutor review.
[Key Learnings]
Tailor the Process to the People
Designing workshops that respected both UXD and IGD ways of thinking created more meaningful, inclusive collaboration.
Frameworks Elevate Ideation
Introducing models like Bartle Types gave the team a shared language and helped justify creative decisions with more depth and clarity.
Planning is Design Work
Workshop planning is a UX challenge in itself — understanding user needs (your team), defining goals, prototyping flows, and iterating based on feedback.
[My Process]
1. Identifying the Need for Structured Facilitation
Recognised that early discussions were fragmented and feature-led.
Proposed a workshop-based approach grounded in the Double Diamond model.
Set goals: produce validated briefs, align disciplines, and build tutor-ready outputs.
1. Identifying the Need for Structured Facilitation
Recognised that early discussions were fragmented and feature-led.
Proposed a workshop-based approach grounded in the Double Diamond model.
Set goals: produce validated briefs, align disciplines, and build tutor-ready outputs.
2. Researching UX and IGD Methods
Reviewed UXD best practices for ideation and prioritisation.
Researched IGD ideation frameworks and player motivation models.
Selected relevant tools: Bartle Player Types, Self-Determination Theory, Emotional Targeting.
2. Researching UX and IGD Methods
Reviewed UXD best practices for ideation and prioritisation.
Researched IGD ideation frameworks and player motivation models.
Selected relevant tools: Bartle Player Types, Self-Determination Theory, Emotional Targeting.
3. Designing the Dual Workshop Structures UXD Workshop Flow:
UXD Workshop Flow:
Products people love → User groups → Problem brainstorming → Affinity mapping → Prioritisation → Brief creation.
IGD Workshop Flow:
Games people love → Player types → Needs/gaps brainstorming → Affinity mapping → Prioritisation → Game brief creation.
Design Thinking & Inclusion:
Both workshops were framed around diverging and converging thinking.
Used inclusive prompts to ensure all team members could engage, regardless of experience level.
3. Designing the Dual Workshop Structures UXD Workshop Flow:
UXD Workshop Flow:
Products people love → User groups → Problem brainstorming → Affinity mapping → Prioritisation → Brief creation.
IGD Workshop Flow:
Games people love → Player types → Needs/gaps brainstorming → Affinity mapping → Prioritisation → Game brief creation.
Design Thinking & Inclusion:
Both workshops were framed around diverging and converging thinking.
Used inclusive prompts to ensure all team members could engage, regardless of experience level.
4. Preparing Team & Resources
Created detailed workshop agendas and Miro boards with pre-built templates.
Wrote pre-work prompts and communications to build momentum.
Coordinated a Skills & Goals Audit to align team capabilities with project ideas.
Scheduled a tutor feedback session post-workshops to ensure early iteration.
4. Preparing Team & Resources
Created detailed workshop agendas and Miro boards with pre-built templates.
Wrote pre-work prompts and communications to build momentum.
Coordinated a Skills & Goals Audit to align team capabilities with project ideas.
Scheduled a tutor feedback session post-workshops to ensure early iteration.