Unconventional Facilitation
Handout Design
2024
Role: Visual Designer @ Studio Dojo
Unusual materials that you would not expect to see in a typical workshop!
Conventional modes of learning that pass knowledge from teacher to student are no longer enough. We need to return to the essence of learning: interactions with people and the learning space.
That is the belief Francis Laleman, a facilitator with decades of experience, came to Studio Dojo with. Together, we organised a 3-part series of theatre-inspired sessions.
Doing things the unconventional way can be scary.
How might we create a playful, supportive environment for participants to explore learning in an unconventional way?
The Approach
Flipping Assumptions
Black and white text on A4 print-outs suggests a formal, lecture-style setting.
The opposite of it would be: colourful visuals in non-standard sizes to suggest an informal learning setting without a lecturer. We decided to use pocket-sized cards to stay true to the nature of the sessions — interactive play.
Each participant was given a sock with jumbled-up cards inside and tasked to find their other half.
No other instructions were given; it was up to the participants to discover, play, and learn from each other.
3 Sessions, 2 Organisations, 1 Cohesive Branding
To reflect the collaboration between the two organisations, I incorporated their official typefaces into the typographic system. A clear hierarchy balanced the two typefaces while visually signalling collaboration across all event materials.
As the sessions centred on returning to the fundamentals of play, I referenced the three primary colours (red, yellow, blue). To introduce a sense of warmth and approachability, I replaced red with pink to soften the palette while maintaining vibrancy. Secondary colours (orange and green) were introduced to expand the system and create flexibility across materials.
Graphic elements like squiggles and blobs were designed to be abstract, where they could morph into chairs and confetti, encouraging space for imagination and reinforcing the playful nature of the sessions.
Impact
Applause for the Actors and Spectators
More than 80 learners participated across the 3 sessions, and gave the series an average rating of 4.5/5. In the post-event feedback form, several participants expressed interest in attending future Masterclasses involving unconventional, playful, and experiential learning.
Special thanks to:
Studio Dojo and Francis