Designing Action with Applied Compassion Workshop
Join us for a workshop with Trudy Watt, AIA NOMA, Kay Vaughan Innovation Fellow at the School of Human Ecology and Academic Director of the MS Design + Innovation (MD+I) Program, University of Wisconsin - Madison.
How can we sustain creativity, collaboration, and courage when working on the world’s hardest problems? Designing Action with Applied Compassion introduces evidence-based practices that strengthen awareness, empathy, and presence in creative and professional life. This session invites participants to explore compassion not just as a feeling—but as a trainable process of noticing, relating, and responding skillfully to large and small challenges.
Through short lecture, guided practice, and reflection, we’ll examine the differences between empathy and compassion, learn accessible tools for grounding attention, and experiment with ways that compassionate awareness can shape design, teamwork, and leadership.
No prior experience is required—just curiosity and a willingness to slow down, notice, and connect.