How to Run the
Designing WITH AI Workshop
A complete facilitator guide for running the 45-minute workshop using the Catalyst Deck. Everything you need to know about the cards, game modes, and workshop flow.
Core Philosophy
"This isn't about AI replacing craft — it's about AI amplifying the questions designers ask and the insights they uncover for customers. Frame it as expanding your design toolkit, not replacing your design thinking."
The key message: AI won't replace your 20 years of craft knowledge. But designers who learn to ASK AI better questions will outperform those who don't.
Understanding the Deck
5 Card Categories
Challenge assumptions. Reframe the human-AI relationship.
Deepen research analysis with AI as your thinking partner.
Generate powerful, unexpected questions that unlock insight.
Stress-test ideas. Break through creative blocks.
Tailored prompts for UX, Service, Visual, Content & Research.
4 Card Types
Copy-paste ready AI prompt
Team task or problem to solve
Provocation for discussion
Unexpected twist or constraint
45-Minute Workshop Flow
Step-by-step guide with card recommendations and facilitator tips.
Opening Reframe
Draw a Reframe card and read the provocation aloud. "The Camera Didn't Replace Painters" — address the fear directly. Frame AI as expanding the toolkit, not replacing design thinking.
Start with a Reframe Insight card. Let the group react before moving on. Silence is okay — it means they're processing.
Activity 1: "What Are We Missing?"
Each group gets a real customer research artifact. Part 1 (4 min): Traditional analysis. Part 2 (4 min): AI-assisted analysis using drawn Prompt cards. Part 3 (2 min): Compare findings.
Use the AI-ssistant Draw game mode. Draw 3 Analysis Amplifier Prompt cards for each team. The "aha" moment comes when AI spots something the team missed.
Synthesis
Quick share-out: "One thing AI helped you see that surprised you." Build the AI Capability Framework together on a whiteboard.
Capture responses visually. The framework should emerge from the group, not be presented top-down. Draw an Insight card to close this section.
Activity 2: Sprint Question Generator
Three rounds of AI-powered question generation. Round 1: Understand differently. Round 2: Ideate unconventionally. Round 3: Stress-test thinking. Build Question Maps.
Use the Question Cascade game mode. Each round draws different category cards. Encourage teams to copy prompts directly from the cards into their AI tool.
Gallery Walk & Peer Learning
Groups post their Question Maps. 5 min silent walk with sticky notes. 5 min facilitated discussion: "Which questions surprised you?"
Photograph all Question Maps. These become the first artifacts for your Community of Practice. Draw a Wildcard to inject energy if the group is flagging.
Bridge to Action
This Week Challenge: Take ONE real task and do the "with/without AI" comparison. Introduce the Question Library and CoP launch.
End with the final provocation: "The designers who'll thrive aren't the ones who know AI best — they're the ones who ask the best questions OF AI FOR customers."
Materials Checklist
Per Group
- ✓ Real customer research artifact (Activity 1)
- ✓ Real CX challenge brief (Activity 2)
- ✓ Large format paper for Question Maps
- ✓ Sticky notes & markers
- ✓ Laptop with AI tool access (Copilot/Claude/ChatGPT)
- ✓ This digital card deck (open on a shared screen or individual devices)
Facilitator Prep
- ✓ Curate 6 customer artifacts representing different crafts
- ✓ Create challenge brief templates
- ✓ Prepare the AI Capability Framework visual
- ✓ Set up photo capture system for gallery walk
- ✓ Test AI tool access on all group laptops
- ✓ Familiarize yourself with all 4 game modes
Success Metrics
Immediate
End of workshop
- →% who say "I learned a specific way to use AI in my craft"
- →% who identified at least 3 new questions to explore
1-Week Post
Follow-up check
- →# who attempted the "with/without AI" challenge
- →# who contributed to Question Library
- →CoP attendance rate
1-Month Post
Long-term impact
- →# incorporating AI into regular workflow
- →Quality of questions being asked in design reviews