Cozette Kosary, M.A., B.E.D.
UX Researcher and Strategist
Making Decisions and Driving Results
Executive Summary: Equality Jam Workshop - COVID-19 Design Thinking
Overview: The goal of this case study was to explore how the Human Rights Campaign Dallas Fort Worth (HRC DFW) Political Action and Community Engagement (PACE) Committee could meet its 2020 objectives amidst the challenges posed by COVID-19, specifically the inability to host in-person events. The solution was to implement virtual workshops using Design Thinking to ideate, evaluate, and execute new, creative solutions for achieving the committee’s goals.
Role: I served as the Design Thinking Workshop Content Editor, Facilitator, Moderator, and Educator, leading the design thinking workshop to engage the PACE committee and develop new strategies for success.
Participants: HRC DFW PACE Committee Members, including 2 Board Liaisons, 5 Co-chairs, and 5 Volunteers.
Experience Levels: Participants had a few months to a year of experience within the committee.
Platforms: Zoom and Mural.
Decision-Making Process: The team was educated on Design Thinking to drive effective problem-solving. Mural was selected for its usability, and Zoom provided accessibility. The process evolved iteratively to adjust to real-time feedback and foster team engagement.
Research & Evaluation Stages:
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Convincing Leadership: Leadership was initially educated on Design Thinking to demonstrate its value in navigating challenges during COVID-19. After leadership's buy-in, research on virtual workshops was conducted. The team decided to use Mural and Zoom for their accessibility and ease of use for participants.
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Workshop Preparation: A rehearsal was conducted to refine the workshop framework, including updates based on participant feedback (e.g., adding reference to 2020 goals and adjusting ideation steps to enhance clarity).
Research Methods:
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Design Thinking: This method was central to the ideation and problem-solving process, enabling the team to think creatively and systematically through stages like understanding the problem, brainstorming solutions, prototyping, and testing.
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Ideation and Evaluation: Participants brainstormed new event formats and campaigns and then evaluated each idea based on impact and feasibility using an Effort vs. Impact chart.
Key Findings:
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Adaptability to Virtual Tools: The combination of Mural and Zoom worked effectively for virtual collaboration and ideation, with Zoom allowing easy participation for those without computers.
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Engagement Through Structure: The "How Might We" technique helped participants think more creatively and generate relevant solutions by encouraging them to view challenges through different lenses (e.g., as text, events, fundraisers).
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Refinement of Ideas: The ideation phase showed that solutions needed to be prioritized based on impact and effort, helping the committee focus on feasible actions.
Solution Development and Execution:
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Team Unity and Alignment: The workshop helped foster a sense of unity and aligned the team around the risk of in-person events, making virtual solutions a priority.
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Task Division: Teams were formed around both short-term and long-term projects, focusing on solutions with high impact and low effort to be implemented quickly.
Workshop Results: Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the workshop generated tangible outcomes:
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4 events (e.g. Text Bank Campaign, Virtual Political Brunch, Back to School Family Story Times, and Trivia Night).
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130+ social media posts.
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$3,135.92 donated to community causes.
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237 participants.
Conclusion: The Design Thinking Workshop enabled HRC DFW’s PACE Committee to creatively adapt its strategies to meet 2020 goals despite the challenges of COVID-19. The collaborative process resulted in successful virtual initiatives that had a meaningful impact on both the committee’s objectives and the local community. This workshop demonstrates the value of adaptability and innovative problem-solving in times of crisis.