Aesthetics and environment are important

It might sound silly to say, but I have observed the marked difference it makes when working on a project like this when you give really careful consideration to the space and aesthetics, mood and atmosphere. Lots of spaces are UAL are cold and clinical and devoid of personality (the tower block at LCC might be the worse offender)

When you’re asking the brain to be visual and creative it makes sense to give it some stimuli to help this. In the case of this project careful attention to the surroundings. See images

Also intentional is the lack of hierarchy, we all sit around a table – including the industry collaborators and the client team (not just a shop)
There is movement around the space of course but for the main part of the session we are all sitting together and the mode is dialogic and warm. This is then supported with asynchronous resources that support the conversations after the sessions.
The main body of the session is recorded but we leave moments off camera too for comfort and conversation that students might feel more comfortable with knowing it stays in the room- removing pressure and giving the sense that they are just having a chat about design.

I’ve observed a real confidence and rapport between the collaborators and the students as a result of this.