Why Some Problems Matter More - Hands-On Workshop
Not all problems are created equal. In this hands-on workshop, design leader Grant Baker will guide participants through the critical first step of any successful design project: Identifying which problems are actually worth solving.
Drawing from real-world case studies and proven frameworks, this interactive session focuses on the intersection where business value meets user needs.
Participants will learn to evaluate problems through multiple lenses, moving beyond surface-level requests to uncover the challenges that truly matter to both organizations and their customers.
"Rather than fight for a seat at the table, fight to find valuable problems to solve."
Facilitator Bio:
Grant Baker transforms complex business challenges into elegant design solutions. As a design leader who bridges strategy and execution, he's orchestrated Fortune 500 website redesigns, led testing for payment solutions handling over $1.2B in annual transactions, and developed systems that help frontline managers optimize operations. Grant believes great design starts with asking the right questions—not just solving the problems you're given, but uncovering the problems that truly matter.
What You'll Learn
How to assess problem value from both business and user perspectives
Techniques for understanding the broader context that shapes every design challenge
Methods for identifying when business priorities and user needs align (and what to do when they don't)
Practical tools for documenting and communicating problem value to stakeholders
Hands-on and Interactive
This isn't a lecture. It's a working session.
Participants will collaborate in small groups to map the competing priorities between what companies need and what users want, using real scenarios to practice the evaluation frameworks discussed.
Who Should Attend
Perfect for designers, product managers, and anyone involved in shaping digital experiences who wants to ensure their work tackles the right challenges from the start.