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Workshop Retreats

or think of it as an Innovation Vacation

Innovation & UX Workshop Retreats

An experienced facilitator will assist your team to capture ideas from a user/customer perspective. We believe all ideas are good ideas - even the wild ideas. This private, design-thinking workshop can range from product strategy innovation, to creative brainstorming, to user-centered problem solving.

Work on new innovative ideas while enjoying beautiful San Diego, California.
For the creative and innovative ideas to start flowing, you need to get outside of your office and away from your daily tasks.

Help your team to stimulate creative, innovative ideas. The activities within these workshops can help to challenge the status quo.

  • New Product Brainstorming Workshop
  • Re-Envision Existing Product Brainstorming Workshop
  • Innovation Workshop
  • Customer Experience Workshop
  • Debrief / Retrospective Brainstorming Workshop
  • Website Re-Design Brainstorming Workshop

One Day and Multi-Day workshops are available.

Brainstorming workshop retreats

Tell Us About Your Needs

Part 1 of 2: Flat Rate Estimates

A) Workshop Preparation Time
(budget of 4-hours consulting time)		 $160 x 4 $640
B) One-Day Workshop
(with 1 facilitator)		 $1440 x 1 $1440
C) Workshop Materials & Supplies $265 x 1 $265
D) Workshop Post-Time / Debrief
(budget of 4-hours consulting time)		 $160 x 4 $640
Sub-Total Estimate $2985

Part 2 of 2: Workshop Venue Estimates

Meeting Room for Workshop
(est. for 1 day, with service fees & tax; no A/V or food/bev)		 $630+

One-Day Workshop Sample Agenda

Location: Downtown San Diego, California

Time Activity
8:00 AM Introductions & Expectations
8:20 AM Rules of Engagement
8:30 AM Activity 1: Setting the Frame
8:45 AM Activity 2: Experience Journey Hexagons
9:50 AM Break (10 minutes)
10:00 AM Activity 3: Target Audience / Persona
11:00 AM Activity 4: Empathy Mapping
12:00 PM Lunch break
1:00 PM Activity 5: Journey Mapping
2:30 PM Activity 6: BIG - Big Idea Generation
3:20 PM Break (10 minutes)
3:30 PM Activity 7: Feasibility & Desirability
4:15 PM Activity 8: Storyboarding
5:00 PM Wrap Up, Action Items, and Review Expectations
5:30 PM {conclude}

Part 1 of 2: Flat Rate Estimates

A) Workshop Preparation Time
(budget of 5-hours consulting time)		 $160 x 5 $800
B) Two-Day Workshop
(with 1 facilitator)		 $1440 x 2 $2880
C) Workshop Materials & Supplies $265 x 1 $265
D) Workshop Post-Time / Debrief
(budget of 5-hours consulting time)		 $160 x 5 $800
Sub-Total Estimate $4745

Part 2 of 2: Workshop Venue Estimates

Meeting Room for Workshop
(est. for 2 day, with service fees & tax; no A/V or food/bev)		 $630+ x 2 $1260

Two-Day Workshop

Location: Downtown San Diego, California

Day Activities
Day 1 Topic: Understand & Ideas
What are the business goals, technical capabilities
Who are the usrs, what are their needs, & What is the context
Competitor Inspiration
Formulate a strategy
Day 2 Topic: Diverge, Converge, & Storyboarding
Envision and explore possibilities
Ideate and generate possible solutions
Storyboard the ideas

Part 1 of 2: Flat Rate Estimates

A) Workshop Preparation Time
(budget of 6-hours consulting time)		 $160 x 6 $960
B) Four-Day Workshop
(with 1 facilitator)		 $1440 x 4 $5760
C) Workshop Materials & Supplies $265 x 2 $530
D) Workshop Post-Time / Debrief
(budget of 6-hours consulting time)		 $160 x 6 $960
Sub-Total Estimate $8210

Part 2 of 2: Workshop Venue Estimates

Meeting Room for Workshop
(est. for 4 day, with service fees & tax; no A/V or food/bev)		 $630+ x 4 $2520

Four-Day Workshop: "Design Sprint"

Location: Downtown San Diego, California

Day Activities
Day 1 Topic: Understand & Ideas
What are the business goals, technical capabilities
Who are the usrs, what are their needs, & What is the context
Competitor Inspiration
Formulate a strategy
Day 2 Topic: Diverge, Converge, & Storyboarding
Envision and explore possibilities
Ideate and generate possible solutions
Storyboard the ideas
Day 3 Topic: Prototype
Build something quick to validate design assumptions and design decisions
Emphasis on usability over making it beautiful
Day 4 Topic: Validate
Conduct 1-on-1 user research with 3-5 people (preferrably from the target audience)
Learn what works well and what doesn't work well
Generate a plan for next steps

Innovation & UX Workshop Retreats —
with a Bonus Sailing Team-Building Experience

At Garofalo UX, we believe the best ideas emerge when teams step away from their usual environment. Our Innovation & UX Workshop Retreats provide an inspiring space for creative problem-solving, human-centered design thinking, and product strategy—all set against the stunning backdrop of San Diego, California.

BONUS: Team-Building Sailing Experience

As a special addition to your retreat, we offer an exclusive sailing experience in the beautiful San Diego Harbor. This optional team-building activity encourages collaboration, problem-solving, and communication in a relaxed, refreshing setting. Whether actively participating in sailing or simply enjoying the coastal views, your team will strengthen connections and return with renewed energy and fresh perspectives.

Important Participation Details
  • Signed liability waivers are required from each participant before boarding.
  • Participation is limited to a maximum of 10 people, based on sailboat seating capacity.
Why Choose an Innovation Vacation?
  • Step Away from the Office – Encourage breakthrough thinking in a fresh environment.
  • Engage in Hands-On UX & Design Thinking Activities – Led by expert facilitators.
  • Recharge & Inspire Your Team – A sailing experience fosters creativity and team cohesion.
  • Strengthen Team Collaboration – Work together in an exciting and dynamic setting.

Workshops are available as one-day or multi-day retreats, conducted virtually or in-person.

Let’s chart a course for innovation! Contact us to customize your workshop retreat and reserve your sailing experience.

#GarofaloUX #InnovationRetreats #UXWorkshops #SailingAndStrategy

Suggested Hotels in Downtown San Diego, California

Elite
  • Hotel del Coronado (link)
    Historic and iconic Hotel del Coronado, Curio Collection by Hilton, located at the Pacific's edge on Coronado Island and just minutes from Downtown San Diego
    1500 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118
Deluxe
  • Hilton San Diego Bayfront (link)
    1 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101
  • Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter (link)
    401 K St, San Diego, CA 92101
  • Carte Hotel San Diego Downtown, Curio Collection by Hilton (link)
    401 W Ash St, San Diego, CA 92101
  • Omni San Diego Hotel (link)
    675 L St, San Diego, CA 92101
  • Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina (link)
    333 W Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
  • Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego (link)
    1 Market Pl, San Diego, CA 92101
Moderate
  • Hilton Garden Inn San Diego Downtown/Bayside (link)
    2137 Pacific Hwy Suite A, San Diego, CA 92101
  • Embassy Suites by Hilton San Diego Bay Downtown (link)
    601 Pacific Hwy, San Diego, CA 92101
  • Hilton San Diego Airport/Harbor Island (link)
    1960 Harbor Island Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
  • Sheraton San Diego Resort (link)
    1380 Harbor Island Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
Value
  • TownePlace Suites by Marriott San Diego Downtown (link)
    1445 Sixth Avenue, San Diego, California 92101

...plus opportunities to explore San Diego, California

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