UX Fishbowl is a Liberating Structure designed for User Experience (UX) professionals to share insights, ideas, and experiences related to UX design and research. It encourages collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the generation of innovative solutions. Here’s an elaboration on UX Fishbowl, including how to facilitate it, when to use it, its advantages, and expected outcomes.

How to Facilitate UX Fishbowl:

1. Preparation: The facilitator introduces the concept of UX Fishbowl and explains its purpose. Participants are informed that the goal is to share insights and experiences related to UX design and research.
2. Participant Arrangement: Participants are divided into two groups, the “inner circle” and the “outer circle.” The inner circle consists of a few UX professionals who will actively participate in the discussion, while the outer circle comprises observers.
3. Discussion in the Inner Circle: The participants in the inner circle engage in a discussion about a specific UX topic, challenge, or experience. The facilitator may provide a prompt or question to guide the conversation.
4. Observer Role: Participants in the outer circle observe the discussion in the inner circle. They actively listen and take notes on the insights, ideas, or solutions shared.
5. Rotation: After a set period (e.g., 15-20 minutes), the facilitator signals a rotation. Some participants from the inner circle move to the outer circle, and vice versa. This rotation allows for fresh perspectives and new insights.
6. Continued Rounds: The discussion continues in rounds, with participants rotating in and out of the inner circle. Each round may focus on a different aspect of the UX topic or challenge.
7. Reflection and Synthesis: At the end of the UX Fishbowl, both the inner and outer circle participants come together to share their observations, insights, and potential solutions. This can be done in a larger group setting.

When to Facilitate UX Fishbowl: UX Fishbowl is beneficial in various scenarios, including:

• UX Design and Research Discussions: When you want to foster discussions and knowledge sharing among UX professionals.
• Problem-Solving Workshops: In workshops focused on solving specific UX challenges or improving the user experience of a product or service.
• Design Thinking Sessions: To encourage a deep dive into UX-related topics and promote innovative solutions.
• Training and Onboarding: For onboarding new UX team members or sharing best practices and experiences.

Advantages:

1. Knowledge Sharing: UX Fishbowl facilitates the sharing of knowledge, experiences, and insights among UX professionals.
2. Collaboration: It encourages collaboration and cross-pollination of ideas within the UX community.
3. Innovation: Participants can generate innovative solutions and approaches to UX challenges.
4. Skill Development: It supports the development of problem-solving and communication skills within the UX team.

Expected Outcomes: The outcomes of a UX Fishbowl session may include:

• Deeper Insights: Participants gain deeper insights into UX challenges and potential solutions.
• Ideation and Innovation: The discussions can lead to ideation and the generation of innovative UX design concepts.
• Shared Best Practices: UX Fishbowl promotes the sharing of best practices and experiences within the UX community.
• Team Building: It fosters a sense of community and collaboration among UX professionals.
• Actionable Next Steps: The session may result in actionable steps to address UX challenges or improve the user experience.

In summary, UX Fishbowl is a Liberating Structure that fosters knowledge sharing, collaboration, and innovation among UX professionals. It encourages deeper insights, ideation, and the sharing of best practices, making it a valuable tool for UX design and research discussions and problem-solving workshops.