Join a diverse group of curious and passionate people in Vermont!
Together we are going to build ideas to create a better future through design, while exercising our creative muscles and learning new skills.
This event is part of a global movement, in which almost 200 cities around the world participate during the same weekend!
We will connect with jammers around the world, to learn from each other and share ideas.
1. Why should you attend GSJam?
You will learn design-based approaches to creative problem solving and gain hands-on experience, all while having fun. You will experience how a structured innovation process can produce robust, concrete and human-centered results, in just 48 hours.
2. Who can participate of GSJam?
Everyone and anyone can join the jam! We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to join us and bring your unique point of view to the jam. You might be a student, teacher, entrepreneur, designer, developer, business person, community activist, non-profit professional, government employee, artist, architect, actor, hacker, maker, thinker or tinkerer.
You don't have to be a “Designer” to jam =)
3. Can I attend just 1 day of the GSJam?
Unfortunately not, as teams use the entire weekend to research, concept, prototype and test their ideas. We understand that people have other obligations, such as family and work, so arriving a bit late/leaving a bit early, or stepping out for a few hours, is ok. If you can't make the entire weekend, but want a taste of the jam, consider getting involved as a volunteer, we're gonna love it!
5pm to 8pm. - Introductions,
Secret Theme Reveal,
Team Formation
Meet your fellow jammers! We’ll orient everyone with a short overview of the jam and what we'll be doing for the next 2.5 days. Once the secret theme is revealed, the group will jump right into brainstorming. By the end of the night, you’ll have formed your teams around initial ideas and challenge areas.
9am to 6pm. - Research,
Synthesis,
Ideation
&Prototyping
Teams will start the morning with a short session on research tips, then it's out the door and into the field for some research. Your team will use what you learn from your research to help guide you throughout the day. You’ll be ideating, mapping, visualizing, prototyping, and getting feedback. Teams will be supported throughout the day by a team of expert mentors, who will help guide you through the creation of your new services. Expect a high-energy, fun-filled, jam-packed day.
9pm to 5pm. - More Prototyping,
Show-Don't-Tell,
Celebration
It’s a race to the finish as your team continues to iterate and prototype your service concept, based on user validation! How far can you push your concept? How real can you make your prototype? Teams will upload their final prototypes at 3pm and show their concepts to the group. Then we’ll wrap up and celebrate!
Chris Thompson is the executive director and a founder of Burlington’s Generator. Prior to that he directed and founded the Champlain College Art Gallery and is a former curator for the BCA Contemporary Art Center in Burlington Vermont — staging over eighty exhibitions. Before becoming an artist and curator Chris spent over twenty years in corporate technology management, including six years as Chief Technology Officer for Gardner’s Supply Corporation, overseeing its $35 million/year e-commerce business, and seven years as Director of Advanced Technology for Jager Di Paola Kemp Design, creators of the Burton and Xbox brands. Chris is a 2014 graduate of the Champlain College MFA in Emergent Media program.
Katie McCurdy is a User Experience Designer & Researcher focusing on healthcare. Her mission is to help patients tell their stories, help providers focus on the work they love, and facilitate better communication between all healthcare stakeholders. She has recently consulted with the University of Vermont Medical Center, working to improve the patient and provider experience using human-centered design. Prior to her hospital work, she designed apps and products for startups Medivo and Notabli, health data non-profit Open mHealth, and clients like LabCorp, Verizon and Johnson & Johnson.
Katie holds a Masters of Science in Information with a specialization in Human-Computer Interaction from the University of Michigan School of Information. She lives, skis, hikes, eats chocolate, and organizes local healthcare events in Burlington, VT. Learn more about Katie at www.katiemccurdy.com.
Brazilian entrepreneur, master in project methodology focused on innovation at University of Hamburg, founder of Tree.P a consultancy for business innovation with several projects in Latin America, TechStar mentor for startups, United Nations regional partner in Brazil, Service Design consultant for Government & Public Policy and, head of a project for public service innovation nominated for the United Nations Prize in 2017.
Lead organizer of the innovation hack "Service Jam BTV" (GSJam).