Feelings over Facts, Empathy needs more than Research
Experience Design and its research methods have a rich scientific tradition. We analyze interactions, observe behaviors, and test hypotheses to improve products and services. While these approaches can reveal what feelings users have, they don’t fully capture how it feels to be in their shoes. Service Design
Yet, true empathy goes beyond sympathy — it transforms our understanding by living the user’s experience - even when we simulate it, the emotions will be real. This shift to emotional understanding unlocks profound insights into motivations and behaviors that numbers alone can’t provide. That's what this workshop aims for - or as one participant once said at the end of the workshop: "Now, I have understood what Experience Design really means."
Let Them Experience the Extraordinary! What the Workshop Offers
This workshop helps the participants to broaden their Experience Design toolkit with empathy-building techniques through role play and acting. It's a showcase of Experience Design in itself. After a brief introduction and warm up, there's a short class on acting. Then they'll play through two Live Action Role Play (LARP)¹ scenarios. The participants will learn basic acting methods, how to craft immersive scenes, and how to flow naturally into the emotions and mindset of another person. Plus, it’s a ton of fun!
Highly interactive and energetic, this workshop invites everyone to move, express, laugh, cry and connect on an emotional level. It’s fully inclusive, come as you are, but bring your curiosity, comfortable clothes and shoes, and a playful spirit (a silly hat is recommended too!).
The Workshop is Suitable for these Situations
- Conferences, as workshop with 4 hours duration with 20 to 40 participants
- Company trainings or as part of a retreat with either 4h or 8h duration with 10 to 40 participants
Target Audience of the Workshop
As mentioned, the workshop is come as you are. Everyone who is curious and open to new experiences beyond the comfort zone is a good fit as participant.
In particular professionals in Strategic UX, Product or Service Design will gain most out of the workshop for their own creativity and ideation sessions.
¹ If the term LARP is unfamiliar, then imagine improvisational theatre within a predefined setting and without audience. This workshop follows the Nordic LARP tradition.