Improv is not "stand-up comedy." It's a series of games with rules that offer huge degrees of freedom within a set of constraints. In these games we bring out a lot of basic, quickly understood and communicated rules of culture that are implicit, not explicit. The activities of design (collaboration, creativity, and design research, for starters) have interesting similarities with improv: All have in-the-moment aspects; we learn upon reflection; there's enormous unspoken interaction and there is often an "aha" moment. Design and improv also have important similarities: the need to collaborate and brainstorm, the importance of breakthrough thinking, the balance between process, structure, and unfettered creativity. Playing with improv can make us more mindful of the power of listening, and can be harnessed to create a more collaborative work culture, as a way to develop one's own creativity, or to help warm up teammates and clients in workshops and design sessions. In this interactive presentation you will learn more about improv, listening, creativity, and how they all connect together to support one another. No iguanas will be harmed.

1. Yes, My Iguana Loves to Cha-Cha Improv, Creativity and Collaboration

7. Game: Storytelling Circle

8. Design Research

13. Game: Broken Telephone 2.0

17. Synthesis and Ideation Process

18. Synthesis and Ideation Process Objectives Findings User Experience Brief Ideation Questions Possible Strategies Possible Solutions Detailed Solutions 7 1 4 5 6 2 3

19. Synthesis and Ideation Process Objectives Findings User Experience Brief Ideation Questions Possible Strategies Possible Solutions Detailed Solutions 7 1 4 5 6 2 3

20. Developing Solutions Finding: People are rejecting organizing technologies that have a perceived high barrier to usage Ideation Question: How can we enable obvious utility in a low-cognitive-load way? Strategies: Solutions: Challenge the finding Create learning opportunities to improve cognitive task management Embrace the finding Leverage visual language of children’s toys Packaging Use a cartoon mascot Design Use primary colors Marketing List-making lessons Online Brain fitness games Packaging EZ opening

23. What An Expert Does Objectives Findings User Experience Brief Ideation Questions Possible Strategies Possible Solutions Detailed Solutions 7 1 4 5 6 2 3

26. Time for more games?

27. Take the next step Portigal Consulting www.portigal.com @steveportigal [email_address] 415-894-2001