In the beautiful countryside of La Conception, Quebec, co-founders Andrew and Christine of designACE embarked on a field trip. The fresh air and bright blue skies fuel their mission to create productive spaces for imagination. Armed with their revolutionary waterproof Extreme Post-its, the dynamic duo set out.

They broke free of the typical meeting to set out on a paddleboard adventure. The serene lake is the perfect backdrop for a creative brainstorming session.

To help them reflect and ideate. They selected a retrospective from their book: How to Run Effective Retrospectives. They set sail with the goal of learning and, of course, having fun.

Discover the magic of getting out of the office. Join us as we relive our outdoor escapades. In this blog, you will discover how a bit of nature, a touch of silliness, and a change of environment could be the creative catalyst you need.

Origin Story: A tale of professional success, pandemic burnout, and best friends who refused to settle.

Before diving into the exciting field trip, let's look at the origins of designACE. Lifelong friends and former corporate employees Andrew Edwards and Christine Reynolds founded their company. They set out to revolutionize how professionals collaborate, meet, and solve problems.

Let's go back to 2021—the height of the pandemic. After experiencing burnout firsthand and commiserating with fellow professionals, they found a singular truth. Conventional meetings often lacked creativity and productivity. The structure of traditional meetings was draining, boring, and often painful. The words still trigger them, "I think you are on mute!".

This is not how people create and innovate. This is not how people make dreams a reality. This is not how people love their jobs.

So the two punched their cards for the last time and set out.

With their shared passion for collaboration, they decided to channel their combined 30+ years of expertise in technology, design thinking, and leadership into designACE.

They are on a mission to make work fun and productive for everyone.

Field Trip Time!

Andrew and Christine were jamming away on day two of a strategic retreat. Their agenda included brand identity, service delivery, and new products. Feeling fried from a morning of work, they looked out at calm and inviting fresh water. Like lost souls wandering the desert, the water called to them, "Stop working. You're the boss. Grab a beer and float in the sun!".

Looking at their itinerary, the next thing on their list... a retrospective. Andrew's favourite meeting. Christine, the foremost workshop planner, had a trick up her sleeve. She proposed a retrospective on the lake.

"But how will we take notes?" Andrew rebuffed. Knowing full well that their ADHD gives them the superpower to create, and their kryptonite is forgetfulness.

Grinning, she was ready for this exact moment. Andrew may have been the boy scout, but Christine embodied their ethos today: Always be prepared.

Having predicted this predicament. Christine pulled from her workshop toolkit waterproof Extreme Post-its and two SHARPIES.

Her plan was in motion. They grabbed sunhats and took their work on the road—or water, to be more accurate.

Andrew, armed with a paddleboard and ore. Christine, in a tube tethered to the back. They set out with a stack of Extreme Post-its, SHARPIES, and a dream to prove meetings can be fun and productive.

With the rays of the sun kissing their bodies. They made their way to the middle of a serene lake. The glistening water and fresh air offered the perfect environment for an afternoon of exploring ideas.

Andrew’s questions remained:

• Could they document and complete a retrospective on the lake?

• Would this turn into a mess of ink and paper?

• Worse, would they pollute an otherwise pristine waterfront?

He should have known. Christine was right. Words he’s been saying since he was eight years old.

Start, Stop, Continue - Wet & Wild Addition.

With the paddleboard gently swaying beneath them, it was time. Andrew and Christine began their favourite retrospective activity: start, stop, continue.

This engaging activity in their new book Run Effective Retrospectives involves reflecting, learning and improving. Perfect for brainstorming ideas and strategizing for the future. Immediately, the ideas started to flow. Using their Extreme Post-its and SHARPIES, they jotted down their thoughts and stuck them to the paddle board.

Did the ink run? NO!

Did the Post-its crumble? NO!

Were the pair successful in their mission? YES
As they immersed themselves in the game, a sense of freedom and inspiration washed over them. The knowledge that the Extreme Post-its could withstand the water's touch added a layer of excitement. The ink remained intact even after dunking a freshly written note into the water. Undisturbed by the aquatic environment, the Post-its stuck to the side of the boat.

Even as the edges waded in and out of the water while the paddle board swayed to the beat of the water, their ideas were safe and not going anywhere.

After 30 minutes, they appreciated their work. Transforming their paddle board into a colourful canvas of ideas

3 Takeaways From Their Retrospective

Start: Using a brand kit to streamline their look and feel across all platforms, products, and offerings.

Stop: Filling their Tuesday morning with meetings. This will be their sacred time to get client work done.

Continue: Videos. The pair missed making fun and informative videos for their social.

Check out our latest video on Instagram and follow @designACE.ca for daily tips for unleashing your creativity.

Thanks for joining the adventure.

This picturesque field trip perfectly encapsulated the essence of designACE—a company dedicated to transforming collaboration into captivating and enjoyable experiences. Andrew and Christine returned with newfound enthusiasm. They had a renewed appreciation for venturing beyond the confines of traditional office settings.

So, the next time you find yourself stuck in a tedious meeting, don't settle. Remember the adventurous spirit of Andrew and Christine. Unleash your creativity.

If you want to learn more about Extreme Post-its, check out these links to Amazon.

• Post-it Extreme Notes, 3" x3” or Post-it Extreme XL Notes: Post-it Extreme Notes have 100x the holding power. (vs. Original Post-it Notes). Water-resistant, durable, and writable. Sticks in hot and cold environments. Use indoors or outdoors for lists or long instructions. Removes cleanly.

• Post-it® XL Extreme Notes Holder: Sticks to textured surfaces in tough conditions. Includes a holder for easy dispensing.

• SHARPIE Industrial Fine Point Permanent Marker: Super-permanent black ink is great for metal, foil, glass, film, and plastic. Withstands temperatures up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Fade and water-resistant.

These are a few of Christine’s amazing recommendations for collaborative tools. Check out Christine’s Favourite Workshop Tools. From Post-it Notes to Name Tags, we’ve gathered a list of 9 recommended workshop tools every facilitator should have in their toolkit.