At first sight, it may appear that a design workshop is no different from a meeting that convenes team members and stakeholders. However, meetings and workshops are entirely different activities.

A design workshop is different from a meeting in that:

• Meetings are used to discuss updates, go over agendas, and share information. Design workshops are aimed at decision-making or problem-solving.
• Meetings usually cover a wide range of topics as opposed to workshops that focus on specific issues.
• A meeting is conversation-driven since attendees take turns to listen and speak. Whereas, in a workshop, attendees contribute and collaborate together through hands-on activities.
• Meetings are typically short, ranging from 30-60 minutes. A workshop, on the other hand, can last up to half a day or longer.^[1]

Knowing the distinction between the two can help you decide if you really need a design workshop or if you can make do with a simpler, shorter meeting.