structural development

Dear Saskia, our blog readers have known you for a long time as the expert for creativity and innovation in the ENO structural development team . You recently worked as a coach at the Innovation Challenge in Dresden. How did that happen? Were you able to create a feeling for our district of Görlitz among the participants? After all, your task (“challenge”) was aimed at non-local people with a big question about the future that concerns us here... Please briefly describe the task and your approach for our readers!

For me it was the second Innovation Challenge in Dresden. However, my colleague Clara Hartung and I were "only" there last year as participants and worked on the challenge ("challenge") of a Roundnet association from Dresden and deepened our skills in design thinking. We have been big fans of the event since last year, as the ideas developed have a high level of quality. That's why we decided to submit a challenge this year that the participants could work on.

What was that task? 

The challenge was "Design the perfect village so that young people and families from all over the world want to move to Lusatia and stay there!" . On the first evening of the 2.5-day workshop, I only had three minutes to "sell" this challenge to the participants as interesting. There was competition from many other challenges from well-known companies - but to my surprise and that of my friends, the Lausitz Challenge turned out to be the most popular of the evening. Many participants had a personal connection to the region, so that two teams were formed that worked on the challenge in parallel. (So ​​we already made a lot of money on day 1 😉.) As a coach, however, I wasn't allowed to work on the challenge I brought with me - the task should be viewed from the outside! So I took over the coaching of another team.

What methods did you use to develop the ideas – or did the participants already have well thought-out concepts up their sleeves?

All teams followed the phases of the design thinking process , which was characterized by many iterations . It was particularly beneficial that the teams always had the opportunity to go out onto Prager Strasse and interview people from the various target groups directly. Unfortunately, this is not always so easy in our country. None of the teams already had concepts with them. On the contrary, almost all groups discarded their ideas towards the end of the first day, for example because they did not fit the target group or the client's wishes. Here, as a coach, sensitivity was required so that the participants were not discouraged.

What was the response to your task, how was it processed?

The two teams that worked on the Lausitz Challenge were able to present really exciting results. One of the teams even won the entire challenge! Based on their initial research, the group focused their idea on the topic of vacancies. For example, an alternative living concept designed to appeal to the target group was developed for 3 or 4 side courtyards. The second group came up with the idea of ​​an app that combines the areas of mobility, leisure and shopping to make life in the country easier. Both ideas are very exciting for us. In particular, the thoughts on the app can be included in the considerations for a district app. The team I coached developed ideas for the district love : this was about more participation in real estate projects. We developed a multi-layered, low-threshold event format that is also scalable for clients and investors - and thus took second place. Another double win! Now we will try to place the ideas in the right places so that the greatest possible added value can be drawn from them. The important insights that both teams have shown us in relation to one of our target groups will also be consulted in many other projects.

If someone now wants to develop specific ideas: how can one contact you or contribute?

Anyone who has an idea or needs support in finding an idea or solving a problem is welcome to send an email to This email address is being protected from spam bots! To display JavaScript must be turned on. , This email address is being protected from spam bots! To display JavaScript must be turned on. and This email address is being protected from spam bots! To display JavaScript must be turned on. turn around. We look forward to letters!