discovery. design. facilitation. conversation. play.
our proven uncommon frameworks and formats help you achieve measurable outcomes
uncommon event framework
Our iterative 5-step process prioritises human-centric design, a high degree of participation, and an open, informal journey focused on creativity and exploration rather than a rigid agenda. This produces results you and your participants can see, feel and most importantly, use.
1. Define
The key stakeholders
2. Decide
The right questions or challenges to tackle
3. Design
A process where ideas can flourish and are then evaluated in real-time
4. "Hack"
Viable ideas to feed into new solutions
5. Capture
The process and group commitment to agreed outcomes
our proven outcomes
1.
SURPRISE & DELIGHT
In a world filled with Zoom fatigue and reluctant commuters, host meetings & events that are worthy of your participants' time and attention. Inspire and truly engage them.
2.
TRUE CONNECTION
Our conversation-based framework and careful facilitation allow for your participants to build trust, rapport and lasting connections with one another. No lazy "networking breaks" on our watch!
3.
DRIVE REAL CHANGE
Don't leave another meeting or conference without having accomplished your or your participants' objectives
"the unstructured, high-energy environment of the unconference amplifies ideas."
uncommon client framework
let's figure out exactly why you're putting on an event, what you want to get out of it, and how we'll know if you did or not.
1. Start with why
Why are you gathering your community? What are your desired outcomes from this unconference or virtual collaboration? What change do you want to see? What would happen if you didn’t convene your community right now, in this way? These are just some of the probing questions we'll ask even before you've hired us.
2. Current state
If content is King then research must be Queen. We take a deep dive into your world with primary and secondary research to ascertain the change that needs to happen. This process also identifies your all-important stakeholders who will get you there. And no, we don’t mean ‘sending a survey’ - in fact we’ve found that’s one of the worst ways to get your finger on the pulse.
3. Desired state
Once you’ve done the blue sky thinking, it’s time to get specific. We’ll take you through an iterative process (that can feel painful, but we promise will be worth it!) so you are crystal clear on your objectives and desired outcomes.
4. The journey
One of our favourite parts of the process - your people and the journey we’ll take them on. Keeping your objectives front and centre, we’ll put together a customised schedule for when you have their time, attention and energy. If you have an ‘ongoing challenge’ we’ll make suggestions for how to keep them engaged between editions of the ‘in-person’ or ‘virtual’ gathering. We promise this participant journey will leave them with vivid memories and a true commitment to change. All aboard the Uncommon train!
5. Check it
You can’t change what you don’t measure - and we are big believers in the importance of measuring the outcomes of your unconference, community-building efforts or training session. We’ll work closely with you to decide on the right metrics and measurement methodology, providing only useful reports at the end of our engagement. None of those hefty 70 page reports that no one reads (or can do anything with!). As with all of our work, we embrace the beauty in simplicity.
We couldn't be happier with the outcomes of the Gas Fest virtual workshops. They created an environment that enabled us to re-start critical conversations and delivered a valuable summary report. The community was clearly engaged and committed to regrouping as a result
- Mark Bell, GM, Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel - London
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uncommon event formats
Here are just some of the innovative and disruptive gatherings we design & deliver.
1. In-person Unconferences & Spontaneous Thinktanks
Unconferences are a powerful alternative to the usual meeting, conference or summit format. They are particularly valuable for organisations, communities, alliances and networks who find themselves in the presence of complexity, urgency and tension. Participants are at the core of the unconference format. They provide input, co-create the in-person experience and take ownership of the outcomes. While it may appear that unconferences are an unstructured ‘free-for-all’, in actual fact every element is carefully designed by us at UC, together with you, the client.
2. Conversation-based Virtual Events & Experiences
In between in-person gatherings, we believe in the power of staying connected online. Depending on your objectives, we can design and deliver quick virtual workshops or more elaborate and inspirational touchpoints to keep your community engaged and continuing to drive change.
3. Purposeful & Inspiring Internal Workshops
True change can only come about if your team members & stakeholders commit, and commit to working together to bring about that change. We specialise in participant-led experiences that bond your internal stakeholders to each other and to the change they’re invested in. Change management, leadership meetings, transformation programmes - we've done them all.
4. Uncommon Professional Training & Skills Masterclasses
Upskilling your workforce in an innovative and engaging way has never been an easy task. Employees often join a course as a ‘tick the box’ exercise and employers end up feeling like they’ve wasted their time and money or worse still, not seeing any change in behaviours or skills in their people. Changing the mindset around these activities is key. The training outcomes should be a means to an end, rather than an end in itself.
