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Join the 11th SIG Tutorial on Design Theory 2027
We are pleased to announce that the 11th SIG Tutorial on Design Theory will take place from 04 - 05 February 2027, in Paris, France.
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DESIGN Conference 2026: Workshop 9 - Meditative Reflective Interventions Fostering Creative Ability
DESIGN 2026 - Workshop 9
Meditative Reflective Interventions Fostering Creative Ability
Location: Hotel Croatia, Cavtat, Croatia (Room TBC)
Dates: 18 May 2026 (Time TBC)
Chairs: Björn R. Kokoschko, Maria Uhari-Pakkalin and Akane Matsumae
Organised by: Data-Informed-Design SIG
Workshop Description
This workshop explores the intersection of creativity, awareness, and professional environments, examining how meditative and reflective practices an enhance divergent thinking and creative problem-solving. The session focuses on practical applications within office and professional contexts, investigating how mindfulness-based interventions can be meaningfully integrated into design and creative processes.
Drawing on prior research, the workshop examines both the potential and the limitations of awareness-based interventions. Participants will explore how such practices can support cognitive flexibility, challenge habitual thinking patterns, and foster idea generation at both individual and group levels. Attention is given to the transferability of these methods into everyday professional design settings.
The workshop aims to (1) introduce awareness interventions as tools to amplify divergent thinking, (2) examine their effectiveness through comparative testing and participant feedback, and (3) develop an actionable guide for applying these methods in professional contexts for individuals and teams. In doing so, the workshop also seeks to test, refine, and critically assess prior research propositions, strengthening their empirical and practical validity.
Planned Activities
In this structured, hands-on workshop, participants are first introduced to the theoretical background of awareness-based creativity interventions and then guided in applying these methods in practice. The emphasis is on learning concrete tools and understanding how and when to use them to support creative work.
The methodology serves a dual purpose:
- Individually, the interventions stimulate divergent thinking by providing cognitive frameworks that disrupt entrenched thought patterns.
- Collectively, they support group creativity by facilitating real-time idea synthesis and reducing common collaboration barriers such as production blocking.
The session balances practical exercises, guided reflection, and collaborative dialogue. The workshop concludes with reflection sessions in which participants complete short self-assessments and share insights in group discussions, contributing to a collective understanding of mindfulness-based approaches to creativity.
Key Outcomes
- Empirical insights into the effects of awareness-based interventions on divergent thinking capacity.
- Replication and critical examination of propositions from prior research, supporting confirmation or refutation.
- Practical knowledge and tools that participants can apply to enhance creativity in individual and group settings.
- Documentation of workshop findings through analysis of group discussions and evaluations.
- A consolidated body of knowledge to support the development of a white paper disseminating the tested interventions and an actionable guide for professional creative practice.
