Workshop Exercises: Goals

Future Press Release

Focus the team on a desired future outcome and what the end state looks like

Illustration of Future Press Release
Run a Future Press Release play

Also called: Cover Story, Newspaper Headline

Timing: Planning

Origin: Introduced by Jeff Bezos

Prep time
5 minutes

Run time
60 minutes

Group size
2-12

Why: Foster visionary thinking, align team on a desired outcome, and promote proactive problem-solving

When: Conduct the exercise at the outset of a new project or development cycle to shape its direction and maintain focus

This workshop exercise is part of the Workshop Patterns printed card deck.

A collection of workshop exercises that will help you ditch dull meetings and facilitate with confidence. It will help you master the design process and have more productive time with your team. The card deck will be ready for purchase in the end of 2025 and is now undergoing rigorous testing.

Reserve your deck!

Instructions for running this play

  1. Set the Scene. Introduce the challenge of writing a press release for a newspaper, asking participants to imagine a future where your product/service has achieved its goals and made the world a better place.
  2. Split participants into groups of 2-3 who will write their press release together. The press release should include the product name, target audience, problem solved, product details, unique selling point, quotes from users, and how to get started.
  3. Write. Allow 20-30 minutes for writing and sketching, focusing on the product’s positive impact and user experience.
  4. Share & finalize. Share the press releases, choose the best elements, and compile into a final draft. The goal is to envision a successful future and align the team on the path to get there.

Instructions for running this play

Variation
  1. Set the Scene. Introduce the challenge of coming up with the headline of a newsspaper article, describing a future where your product/service has achieved its goals and made the world a better place.
  2. Split participants into groups of 2-3 who will write their newspaper headline. The headline can include any of the following: the product name, target audience, problem solved, product details, unique selling point, quotes from users, and how to get started.
  3. Write. Allow 5-10 minutes for group work, focusing on the product’s positive impact and user experience.
  4. Share & finalize. Share the headlines, choose the best elements, and compile into a final draft. The goal is to envision a successful future and align the team on the path to get there.

Tips to perfect this play

Master and adapt the play to fit your context and needs.

Tip: Role-playing

Encourage participants to role-play as different audience personas when writing their press release to ensure a user-centric approach to problem-solving.

Tip: Conversations over perfection

You are not looking for the perfect press release; the conversation is as important as the final product

Tip: Just a headline

A trimmed down version of this exercisse only focuses on creating the headline of the press release.

This workshop exercise is part of the Workshop Patterns printed card deck.

A collection of workshop exercises that will help you ditch dull meetings and facilitate with confidence. It will help you master the design process and have more productive time with your team. The card deck will be ready for purchase in the end of 2025 and is now undergoing rigorous testing.

Reserve your deck!

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Ice Breakers

Relieve initial group awkwardness and establish a safe space

Educate

Broaden knowledge or insight regarding the behavior or situation to inform decisions.

Demonstrate

Show practical examples or models of the desired behavior for clear guidance.

Alert

Highlight current actions and their reasons, bringing unconscious habits to awareness.

Train

Develop necessary skills and competencies to enable effective action.

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