Design Studio Workshops
Twice a year, we enter a natural pause: samples are in progress and the next round of briefs have yet to be handed off. I see this as an opportunity to invest in the team.
During these windows, I lead internal workshops designed to stretch our skills and explore new ways of thinking. From AI tools to 3D sketching to advanced Illustrator workflows, each session is crafted to keep us sharp; to stay curious; to grow not just as designers, but as creative thinkers. It’s also a space for developing leadership skills; I encourage team members to share their own knowledge and lead sessions, creating a culture of learning that goes both ways.
Gravity Sketch Workshop
A ten-week VR immersion designed to empower the team and expand our design toolkit.
I led a ten-week workshop series to integrate Gravity Sketch into our design studio’s creative toolkit. I arranged for every designer to receive a VR headset, ensuring equal access to the tools and opportunity. Each week, we were joined by Gravity Sketch experts who guided the team through new techniques and workflows — from basic navigation to advanced modeling for footwear.
Fridays became our dedicated collaboration space: the team came together to practice, experiment, and support one another. Designers already familiar with the platform played a key role in mentoring those still catching up; it was a true studio-wide effort. By the end of the program, every designer was confidently using VR to explore and visualize new concepts in their workflow. As a result, VR headsets became a permanent part of each designer’s toolkit, expanding how we think and create together.
At a Glance:
Duration: 10 Weeks
Team: Reebok Design Studio
Format: Weekly Training
Outcome: Ongoing integration of VR into creative workflows
[WORKSHOP 01]
Getting Started with AI
Using Midjourney and Stable Diffusion to support early-stage exploration
This first AI workshop introduced the design team to Midjourney and Stable Diffusion as tools for early-stage concepting. We focused on writing stronger prompts using curated descriptors and explored how generative visuals could serve as creative jumpstarts.
At the time, most platforms had limited understanding of Reebok’s design language, which made outputs unpredictable. To show the potential, I shared examples from a custom-trained Stable Diffusion model. While we didn’t explore training as a team, it helped show how designers could begin shaping the tools to reflect our brand more effectively.
I also demonstrated Stable Diffusion’s ability to combine an image with a prompt — something Midjourney couldn’t yet do. This feature allowed for more controlled, directional outputs and opened up new possibilities for sketch-based iteration.
While Midjourney was limited in working with sketches, Stable Diffusion offered a glimpse into what this process might become. The session helped build early comfort with AI as a creative tool and opened the door for continued experimentation.
At a Glance:
Tools: Midjourney, Stable Diffusion
Team: Reebok Classics Design Team
Format: Live demonstration + guided prompt-building session
Outcome: Enabled confident first steps into AI-assisted design.
[WORKSHOP 02]
Communicating Through AI Visualization
Using New Arc and Vizcom to support internal storytelling and buy-in
At a Glance:
Tools: Vizcom, New Arc
Team: Reebok Classics Design Team
Format: Tool demo and collaborative sketch iteration session
Outcome: High-fidelity visuals built trust in early-stage ideas and eased alignment with partners.
Several seasons later, we held a follow-up workshop to explore how newer tools could enhance both creativity and communication.
This time, we focused on Vizcom and New Arc; platforms that allowed for fast, sketch-based rendering with more polish and detail.
We used the session to refine prompts, explore iterations on real sketches, and build visuals that felt presentation-ready. More importantly, we discussed how these tools could help teams sell early concepts internally.
By producing near-photo real renders quickly, designers were able to present more fully formed ideas; leading to quicker alignment and stronger support from product managers and business partners.
