With the goal of sharing Bump’s approach to creating what we call “policy experiences” and to help others apply this methodology to their own work, we decided to create a one-day workshop for policy and communications professionals in Brussels.
And thus, our Policy Experience Day was born.
More ‘traditional’ methods of communicating policy – dense reports and slide decks, infographics, etc. – are not necessarily the best or most effective way to get your ideas out to the right people.
But offering a fresh perspective of an industry that may be misunderstood by policymakers? Or showcasing your organisation in an unexpected way? By combining visual storytelling, immersive settings and hands-on interactivity, policy experiences can make complex ideas easier for the right people to understand and connect with.
The idea behind policy experiences is simple: people remember what they feel and do more vividly than what they read or hear. By creating spaces that encourage stakeholders to experience a message, rather than just receive it, organisations can build stronger connections and facilitate deeper discussions.
Take a look at the video below to see more from our Policy Experience Day.
Our Policy Experience Day was structured to give attendees—junior and senior Brussels Bubble pros alike—a practical introduction to Bump’s methodology.
Participants worked with our Bump Policy Experience Canvas, a one-page tool for visualising the planning and execution of a policy experience, and our Methodology Cards, which guide the design process step-by-step.
The workshops themselves included a mix of theory and practice, complete with activities designed to encourage creativity and teamwork.
From brainstorming sessions to structured problem-solving, we went step-by-step on how to turn policy messages into engaging experiences that resonate with the right audiences.
Our Policy Experience Day wasn’t just us presenting Bump’s approach; it was a chance for participants to try it out for themselves, collaborate and build on each other’s ideas – aligning with the true ethos of our co-creation process 🙂
We see value in creating environments where people feel comfortable experimenting, which is why we introduced playful elements such as using LEGO for ideation. This was a fun and tactile way for participants to share their perspectives and build upon their ideas – even those who would describe themselves as “not creative” could give form to an idea.
Another highlight was a brief introduction to using AI tools to generate a first image to guide further thinking. We walked participants through how simple text prompts can be transformed into compelling visuals, showing how new technologies can help streamline the creative process.
AI is excellent for giving your ideal a visual starting point, but that’s where the human element comes into play. You can tweak the visual into something that can actually be built – and ticks all the boxes of your strategy.
Of course, good facilitation is key to making workshops like these work. Our incredible experience team—Arnoud Schoofs, Koen Huyghe and Mawi Peeters—focused on creating great vibes all day long, while also curating an experience where everyone felt included and free to contribute.
The Policy Experience Day was a chance to refine our own practices and share what we’ve learned so far. We’re excited to keep exploring, iterating and helping others do the same.
Good news. So are we.