How Nonsense Breaks Assumptions into Design Solutions
30 min FREE Lighting Talk
How Nonsense Breaks Assumptions into Design Solutions
“That makes no sense” can end a conversation too early. An idea may seem absurd because it challenges a rule your team takes for granted. But strategically questioning that rule could reveal a new way to approach how you think about a design problem.
Nonsense gives designers a way to question what feels obvious. Humour, absurdity and unexpected connections can change how we understand a problem…and what we consider possible.
his does not mean filling workshops with random jokes or pursuing absurd ideas for entertainment. Purposeful nonsense disrupts an established pattern while retaining enough structure for people to recognise what has been disrupted. It makes a familiar situation strange, giving participants permission to examine assumptions that ordinary discussion leaves untouched.
For more context see: Nonsense by Design: How Absurdity Can Break Problem Frames
Join Frank Spillers for a free, 30-minute exploration of nonsense as a catalyst for design innovation. Discover how to challenge familiar thinking and recognise possibilities worth developing.
If you’re designing for AI (chatbots, voice agents and AI-enabled workflows, assumptions about automation and tech-led AI efforts need to be de-risked.
Why this topic matters
Teams can generate dozens of ideas while keeping the same assumptions. The result is often another version of the same answer. How you frame a problem, interpret user research and choose an approach to solving your design problem matters more than anything.
Nonsense creates an opportunity to question the starting point. Why is this considered normal? Which constraints are necessary? What possibilities have we dismissed too quickly?
These questions matter when a roadmap repeats familiar features, a brief already names the solution or a team struggles to imagine alternatives. This Lightning talk explores how to bring that thinking into design work while staying grounded in user needs and evidence.
Who this is for
- UX and service designers handed a solution before the problem is clear.
- Product managers and design leads whose team keeps proposing the same features.
- Researchers and facilitators helping people examine competing explanations.
What happens in 30 minutes
- Explore the relationship between nonsense, creativity and design innovation.
- Examine how assumptions shape the solutions we consider.
- Discover how unexpected ideas can become useful design directions.
- Discuss applications to your work with Frank.
The session is live and interactive. You can contribute in chat, ask questions or listen. No preparation is required.
Go Deeper: In Nonsense for Design Innovation- (3 part series) Deep Dive Lab. 3 hrs cost: USD $99 included in your UXIC membership– starts at USD $49 per month, cancel anytime).
Practise reversing, exaggerating and changing the rules. Develop three alternative problem frames, compare what each explains and choose a research step.
FAQs
Do I need to be funny?
No. You will respond to a supplied prompt. An awkward or unexpected answer can still reveal a useful assumption.
Will I have to act or perform?
You can complete the exercise in writing. Sharing in chat or speaking is optional.
What will I leave with?
A revised problem statement, one design idea and one evidence question. You will also receive the reusable exercise card.
Will I finish a complete design solution?
You will develop an early design response and a way to investigate it. Further research and prototyping will determine whether it helps.
Can I use my own project?
Yes. Choose a brief you can describe without confidential details. The supplied meeting example is ready to use if you prefer.
Is this only relevant to AI design?
The exercise uses AI to make the reversal memorable. You can apply the same technique to onboarding, customer support and public services.
How does this relate to Liberating Structures?
We use quiet thinking time followed by shared responses. This short participation pattern draws on Liberating Structures. The three-session masterclass provides more time for structured group work.
Is this part of the three-hour masterclass?
This is a standalone introduction. The masterclass develops the approach through three one-hour interactive sessions. You can take either independently.
Who You will Learn From
Frank Spillers
Founder - UX Inner Circle
Frank Spillers, MS, founded the UX Inner Circle in 2020 to support senior practitioners facing complex challenges. The community exists to sharpen thinking, increase your confidence, and pressure-test real decisions. It’s built for people doing the work, not just talking about it. Frank founded an award-winning UX and Service Design consultancy (Experience Dynamics) and now leads UX and Service Design at numerous organisations, including the UK Government Digital Service. He has worked with and led teams to deliver hundreds of products and services over several decades. His work spans government, enterprise platforms, nonprofits, and global brands. He brings 25+ years as a senior UX and Service Design leader. His focus areas include Inclusive Design, accessibility, emotion-led design, cross-cultural UX, VR/AR, and UX leadership. His work has directly increased conversion by 88% and revenue by 300% for organizations including Nike, Microsoft, Intel, Capital One, Global Disability Rights Now!, the World Bank, and the City of New York.
