Creatively prototyping the future high street

By Soupspoon (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
By Soupspoon (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Creatively prototyping the future high street is a workshop hosted by the University of Salford at the MediaCityUK campus and organised by colleagues from Salford, Manchester and Liverpool Business Schools.

During the one day programme a variety of innovative and engaging hands-on methods will be used to identify and understand the big challenges facing high street retailers, town managers and planners and everyday consumers.

The aim of this workshop is to identify and address current issues facing the future of our high streets. Using innovative methods (including Serious Play Lego and Science Fiction Prototyping) we aim to identify the issues and challenges being experienced by key stakeholders and work towards creating solutions and inform policy.

Findings from this workshop will be reported back to a network of practitioners, academics, and policy makers as a proactive outcome.

Why should you get involved in this workshop?

Help to shape the future high street

The high street is changing and we need your views to realise the change to make it meaningful in the 21st century. It is in our collective interests to design a future high street that recognises its continuing role at the heart of our community while also undertaking a re-invention to better meet our collective needs.

The outcomes of the workshop will be shared through blogs hosted by the University of Salford and the University of Manchester.

During the workshop a variety of innovative and engaging activities will be employed to identify issues, debates and potentially solutions to the challenges currently facing the high street. These activities will incorporate Lego Serious Play – which we have previously used to define the concept of Digital Business – and Science Fiction Prototyping – which has been employed in a range of ways including educational settings.

What is Science Fiction Prototyping?

Intel’s futurist and acknowledged founder of Science Fiction Prototyping, Brian Johnson, speaks about the purpose and benefits of of the concept.

Click for video

What is Lego Serious Play?

You can also explore the potential of Lego Serious Play in this video from the Liquid Agency.
Click for video

 

Workshop agenda

The workshop will be facilitated by Tracy Ellis. The purposed scheduled is packed but exciting and includes opportunities for networking and reflection.

  • 1000: Welcome (walk through the day’s activities)
  • 1015: High Street snapshot case studies (visualising and understanding the high street)
  • 1045: Introducing Science Fiction Prototyping (SFP)
  • 1100: SFP activity – writing the future high street (incorporating break)
  • 1200: Introducing Serious Play – landscape and connections
  • 1215: Serious Play activity (Making the Future High Street)
  • 1300: Lunch
  • 1400: Feedback and discussion from Serious Play
  • 1500: SFP activity – finalising the narrative (incorporating break)
  • 1530: Presenting the SFPs
  • 1600: Overview and takeaways
  • 1630: Close

The workshop is funded by a grant from the Future Cities and Community Resilience (FCCR) network.

When and where is this workshop?

The event will be Monday 21st July at the University of Salford’s MediaCity campus, Salford Quays (10.00 – 16.30)

How can you book your place?

Book your place for the event through EventBrite.

Spaces are limited so please book early and if you can’t attend please let us know so we can invite those on the waiting list!