Disapproved! - A Design Workshop for Eco-Ideas That Would Never Get Past Management

Why do the boldest sustainability ideas so often die in approval rounds?

Because most teams optimize existing features by a few percent instead of reinventing the product. In this hands-on AI design workshop, we do the opposite.

Using “Absurdity Driven Design,” you’ll develop products that would almost certainly never survive a standard corporate approval process. Along the way, we’ll discuss how sustainable products can become truly desirable, not just “the responsible choice.”

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What to expect

1. Case study: In small, interdisciplinary teams, you create a product for HALDEN, a fictional brand that is in every aspect of our lives.
2. Rapid AI prototyping: Use AI tools to turn unconventional ideas into quick prototypes such as visuals, features and interfaces.
3. The “Never Approved” Award: Each team pitches its concept. The idea that breaks conventional boundaries most absurdly wins.
4. Transfer discussion: Over snacks and drinks, we discuss which core ideas could make sustainable solutions the most desirable ones in the real world.

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Who it’s for

Designers, product managers and innovation leads who design products within companies. No prior sustainability knowledge is needed.

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What to bring

Your laptop and access to your preferred AI and design tools.

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Details

• 📅 Friday, 23 October, 11:00–13:00, with snacks, drinks and networking from 13:00
• 📍 &why Studio, Tegernseer Landstraße 36, 81541 Munich
• 🌐 ​Language: English
• ♿ ​Not Wheel-chair accessible
• 💶 Free of charge
• 🎟️ ​Hosted by: final_final and &why

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Please note that photographs and video recordings will be taken during the event for documentation, reporting, and public communication purposes; for online events, this includes recordings of the session and screenshots. If you do not wish to be included in such recordings, please let us know on site or, for online events, at the start of the session (e.g. via chat) – you are also welcome to keep your camera switched off. We will take this into consideration.