Upgrade Your Collaboration Game With Christine’s 9 Favourite Workshop Tools You Can Get On Amazon
Plan a brilliant workshop!
A robust toolkit can make a significant difference when creating a collaborative environment and fostering creativity. In this article, we've gathered a list of 9 recommended workshop tools every facilitator should have in their toolkit. You can easily access all of the items listed on Amazon.ca or Amazon.com.
A busy professional needs suitable materials to facilitate engaging workshops and meetings. And now, here are the top 9 essential workshop tools you need for your next in-person team workshop.
Post-it notes: These colourful sticky notes are perfect for capturing ideas during brainstorming sessions or creating a visual storyboard.
Christine hard at work synthesizing user data using Post-it Notes.
Post-it notes are an essential tool for all meetings and workshops. They provide a simple, powerful way to capture ideas, perspectives, and observations. You can easily move and organize data to identify patterns, themes, and insights by noting what is seen and heard during a project or research cycle.
Whether using them during a brainstorming session or to share information across a team, Post-it notes offer a quick and easy way to visualize information and spark creative conversations. It's no wonder that Post-it notes have become a go-to tool for design thinkers and project managers everywhere.
designACE recommends: Post-it Super Sticky Notes, Limited Edition Color Collection, 3x3 in, 15 Pads/Pack
2. Whiteboard: A large whiteboard provides a collaborative space for teams to ideate and visually represent their ideas.
A photo of an active whiteboard used for a user research project (2019).
Whiteboards are a staple tool in any design thinking or product development process.
They allow teams to capture and visualize ideas in real-time and provide:
A larger space for brainstorming.
Mapping out processes and workflows.
Documenting user journeys.
Whiteboards make it easy to collaborate, iterate, and refine ideas as they emerge, making them a go-to tool for any design thinking coach or facilitator. In addition, you can easily wipe them clean, making them a sustainable and reusable option for multiple sessions.
designACE recommends: VIZ-PRO Magnetic Dry Erase Board, 36 X 24 Inches
3. Sharpies: Thick and vibrant markers, such as Sharpies, are great for writing on whiteboards, sticky notes, or other surfaces during group activities.
Help participants express their creativity and engage with the content more meaningfully.
Whether it's paper, whiteboards, or flip charts, these permanent markers can create bold, vibrant designs. Sharpies can be provided to workshop participants to encourage them to take notes, draw diagrams, or brainstorm ideas in a more appealing and memorable way. By doing so, information can be retained more effectively, and collaboration can become more interactive and engaging.
You can use Sharpies with other tools, like index cards or Post-it notes, to help participants work together and share ideas. Or use them to create customized name tags.
designACE recommends: Pick up the Sharpie Color Burst Permanent Marker, Fine Point, Pack of 24
4. Emoji Stickers: Stickers can articulate emotions and structure brainstorming sessions by helping teams better understand the experience and prioritize ideas accordingly.
Speak your mind with emoji stickers!
We used emoji stickers in an employee experience workshop focused on the growth and development journey. Participants describe their growth experiences in three steps and use an emoji sticker to represent their feelings at specific points.
These emoji stickers help the research team understand the sequence of events AND how the experience impacts their emotional state and behaviours. In addition, the emoji’s served as “hints” for the facilitators who used them to ask participants to build on their experience, asking why they felt a certain way to dig deeper.
Asking questions like, “how could we turn that sad face into a smiley face?” is also a great way to get your user to report on the ideal or expected experience.
designACE recommends: PAOPAO 480pcs Emoticon Stickers 10 Sheets Kids Stickers, Scrapbooking Stickers, Happy Face Stickers
5. Dot stickers are small, coloured stickers that can be used for voting to surface the most popular opinions and priorities.
Create a more inclusive and democratic workshop environment with dot voting stickers.
In workshops, you can use dot stickers to vote with during team decision-making. They are an effective way to have participants indicate their preferences by simply placing a sticker on a whiteboard or chart.
D
ot-stickers can be especially useful when there are multiple options or where there is a need to reach a consensus among a group with diverse opinions.
Participants feel more invested in the decision-making process when they can add their input in a fun and interactive way.
designACE recommends: Get started with this 1400 piece 10 colour set of Dot Stickers.
6. A Timer can help keep activities on schedule and encourage participants to focus on the task.
A timer can assist in keeping the workshop on track and ensuring all agenda items are discussed within the set amount of time.
Timers can be a useful facilitation tool that helps ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of a workshop — and they are especially helpful for workshops with a tight schedule or ambitious agenda. By using timers, workshop facilitators have a better chance of creating a more structured and productive learning environment where participants feel focused and engaged.
A timer can also add an element of competition or urgency to a task or activity, motivating attendees to complete tasks or solve problems more nimbly. This can be particularly effective in team-building exercises or other activities that require collaboration and communication.
designACE recommends: Check out this 6 Pack Multi-Function Electronic Timers perfect for workshops with breakout groups.
7. Index cards can be used for individual brainstorming or as an alternative to sticky notes for capturing ideas.
Using index cards as a workshop tool can assist in facilitating communication, creativity, and learning.
They are great for generating ideas during brainstorming, keeping track of ideas, jotting down questions or action items, or even playing games that help break the ice and connect people. As a result, they can create a more collaborative and productive learning environment where everyone feels empowered to share their thoughts and ideas.
designACE recommends: For a simple set of index cards, check out these AmazonBasics Blank Index Cards, 3" x 5", White, 1,000 Cards (10 Packs)
8. Name Tags are an essential tool for any design thinking workshop, as they help participants remember each other's names and encourage more open and collaborative conversations, breaking down barriers and creating a more inclusive environment.
Name tags may seem like a small detail, but they can make a big difference in the success of your workshop.
Name tags are a fantastic way to enhance the workshop experience and make participants feel welcome. They help people learn each other's names and create a sense of community and belonging. If you provide them, you can more easily facilitate connections and conversations that might not have occurred otherwise.
By making name tags a fun and creative exercise during the start of the workshop, you can add an extra element of excitement to the session. It also sets a relaxed tone for the workshop, encouraging interaction between attendees. Participants can get creative by adding their personal touch to their name tags with colours and drawings or adding funny titles. A name tag with a unique and fun design can increase participant engagement and make the meeting more productive and enjoyable.
designACE recommends: Check out these fun Superhero Comic Name Stickers - 3 x 2", 10 Designs, Pack of 250
9. Supply Caddy: A supply caddy is an excellent addition to any workshop as it provides a convenient and organized way to store and transport all the necessary tools, such as post-its, markers, and sticky notes, allowing you to focus on facilitating a productive and engaging design thinking session.
Supply Caddies are an excellent tool for keeping your stationery and office supplies organized and are great for space-saving and perfect for small workspaces.
They can help you quickly grab the necessary tools, ensuring a smooth and efficient workshop experience for you, your co-facilitators, and your participants. In addition, with a desktop supply caddy, you can easily sort and store your workshop tools like sticky notes, markers, pens, and name tags, making your workspace clutter-free and more productive.
Here is a picture of Christine’s personal caddy. Check out the designACE recommendation below for an affordable and comparable option for your workspace.
designACE recommends: This SimpleHouseware Drawer Organizer Tray with 9 Adjustable Compartments is great for keeping your desk tidy and ideal for preparing for workshops.
There you have it, the top 9 workshop items for design thinking coaches. With these tools in your arsenal, you'll be well-equipped to facilitate engaging and productive workshops for your clients.
These are just a few of our favourite workshop tools and resources busy professionals can use to facilitate engaging workshops and team meetings. While these tools are all easily accessible on Amazon, remember that the most important aspect of any successful working session is the people involved and the process followed. By combining these top tools with a collaborative and human-centred approach, you'll be well on your way to generating innovative solutions to even the most complex challenges.
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