Pre-Workshop Preparation

1. Room setup

   • Arrange tables for small group work (3-4 people per table)

   • Create a gallery wall with adequate space for all statements

   • Set up examples of effective manifestos on display

   • Prepare handouts of templates for each group

2. Materials checklist

   • Poster paper or large sticky notes (3-5 per group)

   • Thick markers in various colors

   • Dot stickers (5-8 per participant)

   • Feedback sticky notes (multiple colors)

   • Manifesto statement templates (printed)

   • Examples of powerful manifestos (printed or displayed)

   • Timer or clock visible to all

Introduction to Manifesto Writing (15 min)

Welcome and Framing (2 min)

Talking Points:

• "Welcome to our Manifesto Statement Development session. Today we'll transform the insights from our previous exercises into powerful declarations that will guide our design approach."

• "A strong manifesto does more than describe what we do—it articulates our beliefs and values in a way that inspires and guides decision-making."

• "By the end of this session, we'll have a set of draft statements that capture the essence of our design philosophy."

Characteristics of Powerful Manifestos (5 min)

Talking Points:

• "Let's look at what makes manifesto statements effective. The best statements share several key characteristics:"

  • "They're bold and declarative—they take a clear stance rather than hedging"

  • "They use concise, memorable language that sticks in your mind"

  • "They're distinctive to your approach, not generic statements anyone could claim"

  • "They reflect your actual values and practices, not just aspirational wishes"

  • "They provide clear guidance when facing design decisions or trade-offs"

Examples Analysis (5 min)

Talking Points:

• "Let's look at some examples from manifestos we admire." [Share 2-3 examples]

  • Example: "At Apple: 'We believe that we are on the face of the earth to make great products.'"

  • "Notice how this is simple but powerful—it centers everything on product quality."

• "Now let's contrast with a weaker example:"

  • Example: "We strive to create good user experiences."

  • "This lacks specificity, doesn't take a real position, and could apply to any design team."

Format Options (3 min)

Talking Points:

• "Effective manifestos come in different formats. You might consider:"

  • "Belief statements: 'We believe design should be invisible.'"

  • "Imperative commands: 'Always design for the primary use case.'"

  • "Value declarations: 'Clarity matters more than cleverness.'"

  • "Contrarian positions: 'We reject the notion that more features equal better products.'"

  • "Metaphorical statements: 'Our designs are conversations, not lectures.'"

• "Choose formats that best express your unique perspective. You can mix formats for variety."

Small Group Drafting (45 min)

Group Formation (3 min)

Talking Points:

• "We'll now break into groups of 3-4 people to draft manifesto statements."

• "Each group should include different perspectives—designers, developers, product managers—to create more robust statements."

• [Assign groups or allow self-formation]

• "Each group will create 3-5 powerful statements based on insights from our previous exercises."

Review Consolidated Insights (7 min)

Talking Points:

• "Before you begin drafting, review the key themes we've identified through our previous exercises."

• "You should have these insights from our provocation debates, future vision exercise, reaction cards, and competitive analysis."

• "Look for patterns and themes that appeared across multiple exercises—these are likely core to our approach."

• "Take a few minutes as a group to identify the 3-5 themes you feel most strongly represent our distinctive approach."

Drafting Instructions (5 min)

Talking Points:

• "Use the template provided to move from themes to powerful statements."

• "For each theme, draft multiple versions of a potential statement before selecting your strongest."

• "Focus on creating statements that are:"

  • "Bold—take a clear position"

  • "Specific—avoid vague generalities"

  • "Distinctive—differentiate from competitors"

  • "Actionable—provide guidance for decisions"

  • "Authentic—true to who we are"

• "When drafting, be ruthless about eliminating jargon and clichés. Ask 'Could any design team claim this?' If yes, make it more specific to our approach."

Active Drafting (30 min)

Talking Points:

• "You now have 30 minutes to work in your groups to develop your statements."

• "I recommend first identifying your themes, then brainstorming multiple statement options for each, then selecting and refining your strongest 3-5."

• "Write your final statements clearly on the poster paper provided—one statement per sheet."

• "I'll check in with each group periodically to help if you get stuck."

During this time:

• Circulate among groups

• Listen for groups struggling and provide guidance

• Remind groups of time remaining at 15 min, 5 min marks

Prompting questions if groups are stuck:

• "What belief about design emerged most strongly in our provocations?"

• "What quality do you want users to consistently experience with our products?"

• "What design approach differentiates us from competitors?"

• "What trade-offs do we consistently make that define our approach?"

Gallery Walk and Feedback (30 min)

Setup (3 min)

Talking Points:

• "Now each group will post their statements on our gallery wall."

• "Arrange them with space between for people to gather and add feedback."

• "Write your group number on each statement for reference."

Feedback Instructions (2 min)

Talking Points:

• "We'll now have 10 minutes for a silent gallery walk."

• "Visit each statement and use sticky notes to provide feedback:"

  • "Yellow notes for strengths you see in the statement"

  • "Pink notes for suggestions to make it stronger"

  • "Blue notes for questions or concerns"

• "Be constructive—our goal is to improve these statements, not criticize them."

Silent Gallery Walk (10 min)

Talking Points:

• "Please begin your gallery walk now. Try to provide feedback on at least two statements from each group."

• "Remember to stay silent during this phase so everyone can reflect independently."

Voting Instructions (2 min)

Talking Points:

• "Now you'll each receive 5 dot stickers to vote for the statements you find most powerful."

• "You can place all dots on one statement if you feel strongly, or distribute them."

• "Consider voting for statements that:"

  • "Resonate emotionally with you"

  • "Clearly capture something essential about our approach"

  • "Would provide genuine guidance in design decisions"

  • "Feel distinctive and true to who we are"

Voting (5 min)

Talking Points:

• "Please place your dots on the statements now."

• "Take your time to consider your choices—these votes will help determine our final manifesto."

Results Discussion (8 min)

Talking Points:

• "Let's gather around the statements that received the most votes."

• [For each top statement] "What makes this statement powerful? Why did it resonate?"

• "Are there any statements that didn't receive many votes but capture something essential we're missing?"

• "Are there statements that could be combined or refined to be even stronger?"

Consolidation and Refinement (20 min)

Identifying Top Statements (5 min)

Talking Points:

• "Based on our voting, these [number] statements received the most support."

• "Let's quickly review each one and see if there are obvious improvements we can make."

• "For each statement, we'll consider both the strength of the concept and the power of the language."

Group Editing (10 min)

Talking Points:

• "Let's now refine these top statements together."

• [For each statement] "What's the core idea we're trying to express? Is the current language the strongest way to convey it?"

• "Are there elements from other statements we should incorporate?"

• "Does this statement provide clear guidance for design decisions?"

• "Is this authentic to who we are right now, not just who we aspire to be?"

Gap Analysis (5 min)

Talking Points:

• "Looking at our collection of top statements, are we missing any crucial aspects of our design approach?"

• "Do these statements collectively cover the range of our work, or are they focused on just one aspect?"

• "Are all the key insights from our previous exercises represented?"

• "Would these statements effectively guide a new team member in understanding our approach?"

Next Steps (10 min)

Final Selection Plan (5 min)

Talking Points:

• "Based on today's work, we now have [number] strong draft statements."

• "Our next step is to refine these into a final manifesto."

• "We'll need a small team to take ownership of this refinement process."

• "Who would like to volunteer to be part of this team?" [Note volunteers]

• "This team will be responsible for final editing, structuring the complete manifesto, and preparing it for presentation."

Implementation Discussion (5 min)

Talking Points:

• "Once finalized, how will we use this manifesto in practice?"

• "How should we share it with the broader organization?"

• "How will we reference it during design reviews and decision-making?"

• "How will we introduce it to new team members?"

• "How will we evaluate whether it's effectively guiding our work?"

Closing Remarks

Talking Points:

• "Thank you all for your thoughtful contributions today."

• "We've made significant progress toward articulating our unique design approach."

• "The draft statements we've created capture the essence of what makes our design philosophy distinctive."

• "The refinement team will share the polished manifesto within [timeframe]."

• "Remember that a manifesto is most powerful when we actively use it—these aren't just words on a wall but principles that should guide our daily decisions."

After the Workshop

• Photograph all statements and feedback notes

• Create digital documentation of all content

• Schedule the first meeting of the refinement team

• Prepare a brief summary to share with all participants

• Begin planning for manifesto implementation