A collaborative, in-person collective of diverse individuals who gather in epic nature-focused destinations to learn and practice innovative design methodologies. Here, we will support and challenge each other through the exploration, ideation, and design of new future scenarios.

You are tired of the conventional...in your work or in your life, or perhaps in both. This is because conventional doesn't work...not well enough, anyway. You are an entrepreneur, an executive, a change-agent, a creative, a dreamer. You are seeking a community that elevates your curiosity, widens your perspective, engages ideation, and inspires you to expand your vision. You want to learn the tools and proven strategic methodologies that will help you design beyond assumptions, fears, and...the conventional. You want to design a future that expands past anything you've already experienced. You are ready to deconstruct barriers, ideate possibilities, and design your future.

During the Salt+Grit Futures Lab Intensives, you will gain expertise in human-centered design and the tools and methodologies, such as design- and futures-thinking, to ideate beyond conventional solutions. You will design with intention. You will become more comfortable in the discomfort of the unknown. You will begin to experience breakthroughs. At Salt+Grit we empower people to explore the possible.

The Salt+Grit team has a depth of knowledge in various public and private sectors across global, regional, and local markets. These include art, education (primary and secondary), energy, environment, finance, government (state, federal, international), healthcare, housing, human services, immigration, life science research and development, recreation, technology, and design.

Yes! We love user experience (UX) research and design because when done well it can better serve people and their communities. Humans are at the center of everything we do at Salt+Grit. In order to keep them at the center, we are steadfast in our practice of leading with empathy, curiosity, and understanding. We engage through active listening, conducting qualitative and quantitative research, asking a lot of questions, leading interviews, analyzing and synthesizing results, revisiting and expanding upon insights, and always, always, always challenging assumptions.

Salt+Grit employs the following two categories of research:

• Qualitative - conducted in a variety of formats to help the research team better understand the subject. This includes behaviors, beliefs, attitudes, motivations, and actions.

• Quantitative - conducted in a variety of formats to help reveal numerical evidence relevant to the subject being examined.

Relevant to both qualitative and quantitative research are the following six research methods:

• Analysis

• Experiments

• Focus Groups

• Interviews

• Observation

• Surveys

Our team designs and implements the most appropriate techniques for each research method. These techniques are based on the unique needs and goals of our clients. Such techniques include:

• Empathy Maps

• Image Sorting

• Journey Maps

• Experiential Workshops

• Interactive Discussions

Human-Centered Design puts humans at the center of research and discovery when identifying and solving problems. Furthermore, it is used to ensure individuals, teams and companies are identifying and solving for the right problems not the assumed problems. At Salt+Grit humans are at the center of everything we do, and it’s so important to us to lead with empathy at every stage. Empathy is the continuous thread we carry throughout each facet of our company.

Design Thinking is a six step human-centered methodology that supports strategic efforts in solving for the right problem.

This process promotes discovery, ideation, and innovation. It leads researchers through empathy, discovery, ideation, prototyping, testing, and implementation. Each step is iterative with multiple feedback loops so to ensure the best possible solution is identified for the right problem.