From the Workshop - "Design thinking for ministry innovation" at the Progressive Youth Ministry Conference in Chicago March 2015

1. Design Thinking for Ministry Innovation
a Spirit guided discernment pathway for youth ministry

2. Type 2
MYSTERIES
Type 1
PUZZLES
&
Two Types of Challenges
by Gregory Treverton
Design Thinking for Ministry Innovation

3. Mini-Design Challenge
working in partnership
Our Design Challenge:
How might we design a better rhythm for personal engagement with daily
practices? (exercise, nutrition, relationships, education)
Design Thinking for Ministry Innovation

4. ILLUMINATE
define the current reality by asking “what is”
I
“moving from concrete observations about people and their needs and desires, to abstract thinking as you
uncover insights and themes, then back to the concrete with tangible solutions.”
-Ideo HCD Toolkit
Sample Questions for Partner (get your partner to share stories and move beyond logistics...ask “why” to an answer...ask “why
again)
● What does a typical day look like? How does it make you feel?
● What gives you energy throughout your day? What drains your energy?
● What does your ideal day look like?

5. IMMERSE
Part 1: discovering themes and insights
I2
“moving from concrete observations about people and their needs and desires, to abstract thinking as you
uncover insights and themes, then back to the concrete with tangible solutions.”
-Ideo HCD Toolkit
●
●
●
●
●

6. IMMERSE
Part 2: brainstorming opportunities by asking “what if”
I2
“moving from concrete observations about people and their needs and desires, to abstract thinking as you
uncover insights and themes, then back to the concrete with tangible solutions.”
-Ideo HCD Toolkit

7. INNOVATE
expand one idea by asking “what wows”
I3
“moving from concrete observations about people and their needs and desires, to abstract thinking as you
uncover insights and themes, then back to the concrete with tangible solutions.”
-Ideo HCD Toolkit

8. DESIGN THINKING
language adapted from IDEO
I I2
I3
ILLUMINATE IMMERSE INNOVATE
OBSERVATIONS
STORIES
THEMES OPPORTUNITIES
SOLUTIONS
PROTOTYPES
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Abstract
Concrete
“moving from concrete observations about people and their needs and desires, to abstract thinking as you
uncover insights and themes, then back to the concrete with tangible solutions.”
-Ideo HCD Toolkit

9. Reflection
When did I feel most alive throughout the process? When did I feel most
drained?
Reflect on one challenge in your youth ministry...what might it look like to
engage in this process with your community?
Design Thinking for Ministry Innovation

10. Median
Income
$146,093
Race
White - 69.2%
Asian - 14.1%
Latino - 10.9%
Black or AA - 8.1%
Population
Age 10 to 19
6,524
Education
7 - Middle Schools
5 - High Schools
HERE WE ARE
CROSSROADS CONTEXT
Ashburn, VA (Loudoun County)

11. 4 AP Classes (81%) - *10 Hr/Week Job - *15 Hr/Week Extracurricular
Average Loudoun County Student
Ashburn, Virginia
Meet:
Emma
Junior, Stone Bridge High School
Emma
CONTEXT
continued...

12. OUR DESIGN TEAM
team dynamics with Enneagram
CODY
investigator
DAVE
reformer
EMMA
MADDIE
DEBORAH
peacemaker
ROBIN
TRAVIS
MARY
loyalist
CHRIS
peacemaker

13. Spiritual Role Models - inspired by
these people and desire guidance
Dreams - encouragers to
accomplish goals in life that lead to
happiness, their creativity and
dream jobs
Safety - these are the people that
will help adolescents be
themselves because they have
already persevered
SAGES
Wise People
Guiding
Bubbleless - getting outside the bubble of
Loudoun County, where spirituality is
experienced
Exotic - nature, food, music, third places
outside the norm.
Safety - defined by comfort, free to be
themselves, not judged, pressureless
Cultural - new perspectives
Authentic - *see Relational Connections
ENVIRONMENTS
What Types & Why
Those Types
&
THEME #1 & #2
environments and sages

14. Spirituality/Religion - confused
about how each are defined
Percentages - 23% of adolescents
don’t consider themselves religious
but still attend a church, temple,
mosque, etc.
*note: with all the uncertainty it
was roughly unanimous that
spirituality is “very important”
Uncertainty
Desires - acceptance, being
content, free to express themselves
Groups - desires have been found
in Boy Scouts, Sports Teams, Clubs,
Church and Families
RELATIONAL
CONNECTIONS
&
THEME #3 & #4
relational connections and uncertainty
?

15. INNOVATE
brainstorming prototypes
SUMMER 2014
Mission Trips
*Great Falls Hike
*W&OD Bike Ride
*Movie Day
Crossover Retreat
Graduation
Milestone
*new gathering
COMMUNICATING WITH ADOLESCENTS
Personal text messaging is the #1 way.
FALL 2014
Leadership Program
Adolescent & Sage Connection
Alternative Beach Week (Summer
2016)
Collaborative Partnerships with
Universities and High Schools
Parenting & Adolescent
Resources

16. Recap
Design Thinking for Ministry Innovation
Discover a
compelling
challenge to solve
Fail and fail more...
don’t settle for “a”
solution
Become your own
research firm
Define your own
unique
measurements
Design Thinking for Ministry Innovation
Questions? Insights? Ideas?

17. UVA
Online Course
& Book
Jeanne Liedtka and Tim
Ogilvie
Practical
Guide
The Amsterdam School
of Creative Leadership
8 Modules
Network of Social
Change Leaders
Design Kit
Organization Designing
a Path Out of Poverty
RESOURCES & QUESTIONS
THNK +ACUMEN IDEO