(I started writing this article prior to the pandemic and took the time to pause and to reflect about previous workshops I’ve attended or facilitated. Of course, I do not endorse in-person gatherings of any kind at this moment time. Stay virtual, people!)
Recently, I’ve found myself both sides of this question — as facilitator of my fair share of workshops on design research and as participant on multiple other design sessions. The word-of-mouth virality that this question probes suggests that the value of something to the world is determined by social endorsement: a workshop is good if enough people like it enough.