About the Workshop
How do you bring focus to a conversation? Encourage active participation?
These might be familiar challenges to you, as organisations today are increasingly looking to designers for more than just skills in their craft. With the growing complexity in the world, designers are also called to be facilitators–to help bring people from diverse backgrounds together in strategic conversations, creative explorations, and to solve problems.
For such situations, this hands-on workshop provides you the fundamentals and principles of being a good design facilitator.
You will learn how to stay neutral while bringing others through a problem-solving process; principles of facilitating divergent, convergent and emergent processes; gain different tools for different stages of a design process; and receive a number of resources to support you along your journey.
What You’ll Learn
- Facilitating divergent, convergent and emergent processes
- Creating active participation and engagement
- Key attitudes of a design thinking facilitator
- Preparing design facilitation sessions
- Different stages of the facilitation process
- Different process tools for different stages of the facilitation process
This is for you if…
- You feel you have been facilitating by instinct or learnt it on the job and want some frameworks or principles to support and ground your thinking.
- You want to be able to facilitate sessions smoothly with effective outcomes that participants enjoy attending.
- You have never taken any formal courses on facilitation and find yourself taking up or being assigned such a role in meetings and discussions.
- You want to utilise design tools and frameworks to help your team or organisation to explore and solve problems.
About the Trainers
Lye Yen Kai
DIRECTOR, ADVANCING.SG
Yen Kai has more than 15 years of training and facilitating experience in focus group discussions, strategic planning and group interviews. His practice focuses on facilitating participants to sense-make from data. Over the years, he has designed processes that guide participants to gain deeper insights by integrating processes from Technology of Participation (ToPTM).
Hong Khai Seng
FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, STUDIO DOJO
Throughout his 20-year career, Khai Seng has conducted more than 1,000 design research sessions, including stakeholder interviews, in-depth interviews, user testing, contextual inquiry, diary studies and in-field ethnographic research. He has also managed and coached research teams.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is this workshop an introduction to design thinking?
No, this workshop is focused on the practice of facilitation and is best experienced by people who already have some basic understanding of design thinking processes. - Can non-designers join?
Yes, anyone can join regardless of professional backgrounds. To get the most out of this workshop, we strongly encourage that you have some basic understanding of design thinking processes. - What’s the size of the workshop?
We are planning for 24 participants. - I can’t make it for these dates. Is there another run of this workshop?
The runs for 2025 are planned as listed. Please follow us on our social media (LinkedIn, Instagram) to get updated when the dates for our 2026 schedule is released (around end December). - Are there group discounts?
If you are purchasing tickets to this workshop as a group, we will extend the early bird rates to the group. - Is Studio Dojo GST-registered?
The fees for our workshops are nett price, as indicated on our website. Studio Dojo is not GST-registered (yet). - I’m from a government agency, can you please submit an e-invoice instead?
Yes, we can! Please contact Zilin at billing@studiodojo.com with the necessary information. - I would like to claim the workshop fees from my organisation. Please advise on how I can register for this workshop.
Kindly contact Zilin at billing@studiodojo.com and she will follow-up with you based on your organisation’s requirements, as much as possible. - Can I use my SkillsFuture credit (SFC) for this workshop?
At the moment, our workshops are not eligible for SFC claims nor any other training grants/subsidies.
Testimonials from past participants
“Facilitation is a skill that is useful to hone as it not only applicable in your personal lives, but also in conversations, meetings and discussion sessions at work. This course teaches us and allows us to put into practice the crucial tips and tricks and nuances in facilitation so that we become more effective facilitators.”
MichelleGovTech, Manager
“Engaging course, good narrative and pace, I get some insightful takeaways.”
FrankDBS
“Facilitation is a key skill whichever role or level you are at. Going for this course helps you look into the fundamentals and nuances with live exercises that helps new facilitators and gives new insights to experienced practitioners too.”
YC YakADA Asia, Head of Consulting, Marketing Technology Practice
“I wish I attended this workshop earlier in my career! And I’ve only been working for 3 years, but I needed this!”
TobyOGP, Product designer
“It's a great space to learn about facilitation for better design, Yen Kai and Khai Seng are very experienced, friendly and patient! I also find it easy to apply as its very relevant. Also, the open sharing of resources are helpful!”
Amelia
“Recommended to any designers or even non-designers who need to facilitate productive conversation (difficult or not) to attend this course!”
ColetteGovtech, Design researcher
“Helpful and insightful in how to do effective facilitation, a must have to be smooth like butter.”
BeccaEYEYAH!, Senior Animator & Designer
“Insightful tips on what to do when facilitating workshops. A topic not commonly covered. Useful if you’re new or even have been facilitating on your own for a while.”
HuilingProduct Designer
“It’s a great workshop that’s practical for designers - toolkits and steps make us mindful but also ready to use!”
XintianDBS, Design research
“Helpful for people understanding the basics of facilitation, and recognising the type of facilitation work they have to do.”
ShiyunCSIT, Product designer
“Although I am new to design thinking and facilitatiing brainstorming sessions, the content that was taught in DF1 is not intimidating. I learnt plenty of helpful tips and a structure of executing the session.”
Xie Shangbin
“Would really recommend DF1 for anyone curious about workshop facilitation and keen to explore practical frameworks useful for their work! :)”
StewartGovTech, UX Designer
“I am not a designer but learnt a lot of useful tools to facilitate effective meetings. This is all the more impressive given that the workshop pivoted last minute from a physical one to a virtual one. Definitely recommended for anyone running meetings and discussions.”
Tong Sau LoonUfinity Pte Ltd, CEO
“This is the perfect workshop to start your facilitation journey, or heck even as an experienced facilitator, this workshop was a great reminder on neutrality and it's impact on the participants and outcomes!”
Mohammed PitolwalaUncharted, Senior Product Designer
“It’s a great introduction into the dos and donts of design facilitation in order to yield successful outcome.”
Jonathan WongDesign manager at bank
“If you would like an experiential, fun, easily relatable and learn skills for design facilitation, this is a fantastic cliff notes workshop!”
NurulLead, Programme design and development
“If you are a designer, be sure to join to uplevel your skills!”
Adilah AnuarPoised Creative, UX/UI/Product Design
“If you feel that your workplace process can be more collaborative do give this workshop a try.”
Tok
“Great full-day spent grasping the basics of facilitation. I feel more confident in where to look for further learning.”
Aadil BaggiaNE Digital, Senior Product Designer
“Great introduction to the fundamentals of design facilitation. It provides hands-on practice and sharing experiences.”
Michael OngThe Collab Folks, Product Team Coach
“Good course for people who are interested in design thinking and process facilitation.”
GuoMingUfinity, BA
“This course is for anyone who wants to facilitate more engaging conversations. You get the chance to practice the tools you learnt, and you get to meet many people from diverse backgrounds. Overall an engaging course and cohort.”
AmandaAVPN
“Concise but wide range of tools to use in facilitation process. Opportunities to hands-on on some important aspect in, eg. staying neutral while facilitating.”
Wen Xu
“An amazing course full of real-life examples.”
Leonard ReeseSoftServe, Experience Design Consultant
“Most practical facilitating workshop that I ever attending.”
Genady
“Go for it! This is a great fundamental workshop to facilitation with techniques that are bite-sized enough to actually try and attempt in your day-to-day.”
PingGovTech, UX Designer
“DF1 was a concise but useful course that effectively balances theory, tools, and practice. You will get to practice facilitation for design processes and receive useful feedback as well as examples of how others apply the lessons at work.”
Louis PuahCrater, Director
“It helped me to be much more self-aware as a facilitator.”
SamGovTech, UXD
“Your views on the power of facilitation will definitely be changed by attending the programme!”
RSMYCM, Curator
“Go for it!”
Roland SohSingapore Poly, Snr lecturer
“Good.”
Jo
“Please do consider to join this. It will benefit you.”
TN
“Great tools.”
SP
“Came with an idea of what facilitation was, but left with what it actually is and how amazing, awesome it can be for yourself and your organisation.”
Anonymous
“One of the best courses I have attended. Packed with practical tools and we learn about the methods and thinking behind.”
Anonymous
“This is useful for people who are new to facilitation or seasonal facilitators who can refresh their ideas and restructure their facilitation skills.”
NA
“Engaging session with practical tools provided.”
NA
“Very practical and insightful session to improve facilitation skills.”
NA
“Good course to kickstart the facilitation processing.”
NA
“Exceptional design facilitation workshop that gave a comprehensive overview on the facilitation methods and approaches.”
JeanetteDSG, Senior Manager
“If you’ve been doing facilitation by instinct, attend this to enhance your skills by understanding facilitation in a structured manner. Learnings nicely codified and packaged!”
Joy LeeDBS, VP
“This is a great workshop to think about how we can become a better facilitator though contextualized to the design process, these are valuable transferable skill to all types of workshop. Fundamental skills. Highly recommend!”
Ziqq RafitEY, Design Strategist
“Set the basics of design facilitation. Simple but not easy. Good sharing of theory concepts! Good for those who are new to workshops and have been sitting in but no clue how to begin :)”
YurongGovTech, UX Designer
“DF1 is a great primer to the nuances of design facilitation and gave language to what I’ve experienced with great facilitators I’ve worked with. It reveals a bit of what goes behind the magic of great workshops in a very practical and grounded way. Yen Kai and Khai Seng are great communicators and experts in their field and I’ve learnt very practical handles that I can practice in my role right away. You HAVE to experience this workshop!”
Immanuel GohGovernment Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech), Design Researcher
“Design Facilitation 1 is a hands-on and practical workshop that allows you to learn good fundamentals and tips about facilitation, and the use of various process facilitation/ design tools. You will also get opportunities to observe and practise facilitation skills, and learn from one another!”
StephanieNCSS, Manager
“If you have been learning facilitation through experience, this course will give you more handles around tools and methods, as well as more nuances around how the tools and methods are used. And it’s fun!”
Xin YiDesign Researcher
“This one-day workshop will equip you with the foundational knowledge and the important skills a facilitator requires for successful workshops.”
SophieClient Engagement
“Really enjoyed the session- particularly when we got to experience the different modes of facilitation!”
Azy AzizPalo IT, UX Designer
“It is definitely beneficial for those who require facilitation skills during work. The use of skills during activities helps bring clarity on the application of the skills in work!”
SharonUfinity Pte Ltd, Designer
“DF1 was an eye opener on the fundamentals of design facilitation, especially in areas we may usually take for granted. There is so much craft and intention in creating a good facilitated experience and DF1 laid a great foundation on the basics.”
Esther YipDesigner
“Applicable for professionals across industries, it’s a relevant and valuable skill set to have and I would highly recommend anyone looking to be a better facilitator and communicator to attend this workshop.”
Velda MahDesign Business Chamber
“Definitely sign up if your work touches on facilitation and you would like to know frameworks and practical tips on facilitating!”
Clara
“An incredibly detailed but smooth class on facilitation, with loads of real-life examples and learning experiences built in! Can't recommend this enough.”
Ken
“Just join la.”
YurongGovtech, Designer
“It provides important yet basic skills in facilitation. Yen Kai and Khai Seng have demonstrated these skills in the training themselves.”
Yan BingMSF
“DF1 was incredibly well-organized and designed to be accessible to both new and experienced facilitators, giving a clear introduction to principles as well as practical tools, and led by engaging experts. Highly recommend!”
Joanne YoongRFI, Founder/CEO
“Read your participants and tailor accordingly. Every group has different pulses and mentality.”
EdmundSIA HF/CRM Auditor and facilitator
“Good intro into design and facilitation.”
SashiB787 Captain
“It’s a great course for anyone who wish to learn about the basics and fundamentals of design facilitation.”
Krystle
“New discoveries on the use of Facilitation. Intrigue, inspiring and intuitive.”
Dawn GohHR Mgr
“A wonderful prompt on neutrality as a facilitator.”
Mel
“It’s worth the hours invested. Come with open mind.”
Diana LeyauSingapore Polytechnic, Senior Lecturer
“It’s helpful to learn how to facilitate and host a meeting to come to conclusions and solutions.”
Singapore Polytechnic
“An essential for facilitation training where you can really learn by doing and practice what is taught in class. Trainers are really engaging, funny, and impactful.”
Isa
“Attend!”
Brian
“This workshop introduces and builds the critical core skills of a process facilitator, a good refresher even for the experienced facilitators.”
K
“Packed day of hands-on learning with amazing facilitators!”
R
“Great and engaging workshop! Learned new things about facilitation such as remaining neutral.”
Victoria TeoNCS, Senior UX Consultant
“Join it, take the leap, and you won’t regret the learning materials and insights learnt.”
Sai PremaCBRE, Creative Designer
“The way the course is facilitated allows the learners to effectively grasp the concepts in an engaging manner.”
Anonymous
“Even for seasoned facilitators, this is a fantastic refresher course to help you unlearn old habits and relearn the nuances that makes best practices. Also, just observing the facilitators facilitate is itself a valuable learning experience.”
NA
“The sessions is jam-packed with information and practical lessons. We get to hands-on practise our learnings and if you don’t have a lot of time to learn a lot of things, this might be the session to go for. Khai Seng and Yen Kai are very, very knowledgable in Design Facilitation, it’s interesting to hear from both perspectives. The SD team did a good job also, in the preparation and logistics. It’s an 8-hr session but doesn't feel like it.”
NA
“Excellent trainers who know their subject matter and is objective in the delivery of the content. Highly recommended.”
NA
“This course is useful for everyone! Just come and you will definitely learn something fruitful.”
NA
“The workshop you don’t want to miss.”
NA
“Good workshop and beneficial.”
NA
“Come with an open mind.”
NA