I made a plugin that lets anyone join a FigJam workshop from any device via QR code, session code or direct link.
The brave new world
In my client service jobs my team and I ran a lot of workshops. I formed a pretty strong opinion on how to leverage them for genuine, useful collaboration — which in part relied on a physical, tangible factor for success.
Since 2020, collaboration has been mostly online. We all did the best we could with what we had. Later, when the pandemic was no longer front of mind for the professional world, we found ourselves in a hybrid reality that was even harder to adjust to for digital whiteboarding.
If you're reading this, you've likely experienced what I mean. Plan an in-person workshop, confirm attendance, and everyone shows up on the call instead. Some people on the call can't access the tool or hear the room. Somebody didn't bring their laptop. The person on the call was multitasking and missed the premise.
This is what I set out to solve.
Making hybrid easy and fun
I believe the digital whiteboard should be the new source of truth, but needs to allow the physical and multi modal analogies that enable inclusive collaboration.
I've written a piece about collaboration if you want to read more about what I think matters in equitable idea sharing.
I started developing Jam Session inspired by my first app-crush: HQ Trivia. The now defunct live gameshow app did well in creating a shared experience between devices and cross borders with bouncy animations, full page transitions and common elements.
Jam Session follows similar beats. Controlled centrally by a FigJam plugin, workshop participants experience an animated intro and a physical, fun analogy to their submission experience that feels like they're holding a part of FigJam in their hands.