The future workshop is a pedagogic method, a way of working, to produce substantial ideas and visions. The number of participants should be limited to about 25 people. This method has a work form with a distinct framework that creates both freedom and safety, and also uses lust and creativity as driving forces. 
The aim of this method is that all participants should find a common platform where they can develop and realise their ideas together. A successful future workshop is a good starting point for future actions and it often leads to the forming of working teams that continue to work on solutions and new development processes. There are various ways of performing a future workshop. The method requires moderators who are educated in the technique. Its main principles are participant governing, democracy and structure. Everyone’s ideas and views will be respectfully heard, discussed and entered into a common context. The method is based on having an overall theme, a subject or a condition that you want to change or develop. This theme is then treated in various ways in phases that runs from problem inventories to substantial decisions in action plans on what needs to be done, when it should be done, and sometimes even how it should be done and by whom. Various working materials are used, and there are supportive questions during the whole process. The future workshop is strictly disposed as regards time, and it is important that the stated time schedule is kept. The method may require a detailed follow-up to support the continued process in the working groups. The method is based on the participants’ active contributions and that they have the opportunity to be present during the whole process. It is an advantage to have a mixed group including politicians, officials, citizens and other interested parties. How you find the participants in the meeting may vary slightly. Either you could have an open meeting where participants can register or you invite selected participants. A combination could also be appropriate. Many perform the meeting during a public holiday so many can attend. A large hall with plenty of wall space is required. (SALAR)

A future workshop lasts for one to three days and includes five phases of equal importance: preparation phase, critique phase, fantasy phase, establishing phase, and implementation and follow-up phase.

Preparation phase

A theme is decided on and a workshop leader is chosen. In the preparation phase practical matters like the duration of the workshop, the place and invitations to the participants must also be arranged.

Critique phase

The critique phase opens the workshop proper, and the idea is that the whole group should together formulate the problems within the theme that was decided previously. The participants are then divided into smaller groups to analyse and try to understand the views that have come to light.

Fantasy phase

Now you should leave all negative thoughts behind and imagine what you want. Everyone can contribute visions and ideas of what they would like the future to look like. It does not have to be feasible or even realistic, just creative and sparkling.

Establishing phase

This is the most substantial phase of the workshop. Now all problems and visions are to be formulated as something workable. Groups are formed on the basis of various issues that have come to light and they discuss how to proceed, who should do what and when to do it.

Implementation and follow-up phase

Back home again everything should get going. The results from the workshop have been documented and must now be distributed to all concerned, participants in the workshop as well as those who did not take part. To keep the process going demands repeated follow-up meetings, and this requires leading lights to keep the steam up (Denvall & Salonen, 2000).

A future workshop requires quite some commitment from the participants for an extended period, since the method includes an implementation phase. It is probably more suited to an organisation or association with regular activity than a temporary user participation project. But the principle of various phases could be useful: first critique, and then solutions.

The Charrette is a type of workshop lasting several days up to a week. In the charrette city planners, public authorities, developers, land owners, concerned associations, the general public and a project leader take part.

During the charrette a new future proposal is developed in common, e.g. in various forms of workshops. The charrette must be carefully planned, and the method is concluded with a finished proposal. This method is very efficient for making quick decisions, but it is not adjusted to Swedish planning. If the team has overlooked an aspect that is important to one party to the case and this party subsequently dispute the plan, the charrette must be repeated. The advantages are numerous, but above all a fruitful dialogue and a good cooperation between all involved are developed. (de Laval, 1999)

The aim of this method is to accomplish meetings between e.g. youth and local politicians and officials.

The form allows discussions, removes obstacles and stimulates a continued good cooperation. Today, many municipalities work in various ways to reach the young or start collaborations aimed at increasing young people’s involvement and influence. This method could also be used to accomplish meetings between different citizen groups, politicians and officials. 

The main features of the matchmaking method are:

• involvement in the arrangement of the conference from the planning stage and in the follow-up and the continued work,
• a form that aims at interaction and discussion in various ways,
• as actively and tangibly as possible encouraging idea development and participation by everyone
• apparent commitment to support/stimulus for projects and continued development after the conference from the parties involved in the meeting.

This method requires planning, good preparations, an effectuation plan and a meeting leader. It also requires large involvement from all parties from the planning stage onward. Everyone is allowed to take part in discussions, and many proposals and ideas are generated during the meeting. The duration is from a half to one day. The resource utilisation is relatively high for preparations like arranging the program, invitations, rent expenses and documentation. (SALAR)