(For the first part of this post see here.)
Creating Experiences with DISC in Mind
So how do you design an experience that all types will enjoy? Here’s a few suggestions.
Don’t. Pick a personality type and serve that personality type.
It’s hard to be all things to all people. This is why there’s so many escape rooms and so few experiences that feature a mix of high socialness, deep sharing, tough puzzles, and intense competition. No one is going to love it. You can blunt the strength of all of those components to “some social, some sharing, some puzzles, light competition” but then you’ve created a mediocrity.
Create an experience where each person can choose from options and they don’t have to do all the options but they could do all the options.
On the plus side, you might attract more people with a range of options. On the minus side you are setting yourself up for many “Well, some of it was fun, but I really did like the other parts much.” Having multiple options appealing to different people will also make your promotional messaging more difficult.
Create an experience where each person can choose from options and there’s so many options that people can do spend the whole time just doing their “type” of thing.
In this instance you’ll have to do a lot more experience creation. If the overall experience allows multiple attendees at the same time, you’ll have little to no control over the mix of types. Everyone could be of the same type. You’ll also have problems marketing to all types. And there’s the possibility of FOMO because people will leave wondering “would I have enjoyed that thing I didn’t get to do?”
Make the expectations from the start is that each person will get a role and “not everyone does everything.”
The group will likely nominate the people who are the best personality fit for each job. This might not be as fun for those D’s and I’s that want in on the action since they’ll be watching. And if all “S”s show up and you need someone to do a “C” activity, you’ve got an issue.
Create activities where each strength is needed at the same time.
If you need one person being creative while another is being logical, for example, you can foster teamwork between types.
Set the expectation that it is an invitation to get out of your comfort zones.
While not everyone will get on board, you likely will get some people interested or at least willing to stretching themselves. You can also phrase the invitation to stretch to appeal to each type. For example, stretching yourself could be framed as a win or lose challenge for the D’s, as something fun for the I’s, as something to figure out for the C’s, etc.
Have something for everyone and just accept the fact that not everyone will like everything.
Not recommended.
Marketing to DISC Types
If your experience leans more to one type than another, make it clear in the marketing so that you can attract more of the right type. Is it about winning, connecting, solving, having fun? Maximize the language that will make it a success for you and your participants and minimize the language that will attract bad-fits.
Some Possible Great Experiences For Each DISC Type
- Dominant: Competitive sports, Adventure Sports, Strategic Games
- Influence: Social gatherings, performing arts, travel
- Steadiness: Nature activities, group hobbies, family gatherings
- Conscientious: Puzzles and brain teasers, learning new skills, cultural events.
Some Possible Terrible Experiences For Each DISC Type
- Dominant: Highly-structured or slow-paced activities, passive entertainment, highly collaborative tasks without clear goals.
- Influence: Isolated or solo activities, highly analytical or detail-oriented tasks or repetitive tasks
- Steadiness: High-pressure competitive activities, rapid change and unpredictability, confrontational or high-conflict situations
- Conscientiousness: Chaotic or unplanned activities, activities requiring quick or impulsive decisions, highly social or emotionally-charged activities
Suggestions for Application
If you are currently working on an existing IRL Experience
Examine your experience and activities within the experience and try to identify what “type” they are. See what the mix is overall. Then consider what the reaction to your experience would be from each type of person. What would they do? What would they think? How would they feel? What would they be paying attention to? What would they ignore? What would be great for them? Terrible for them? Exhausting for them? Boring for them?
If you are in the beginning stages of developing a new IRL Experience
Choose a primary type. Think about what that type of person likes to do and doesn’t like to do. Make up a few personas of that type. Ask them questions to find out what the best experience for them would look like. What the worst would look like. If you have some preliminary ideas or themes, suggest them to your personas and ask those questions again.
Then turn away from the persona and ask what does an experience of your chosen Type look like? What kinds of activities are great? Terrible? What are some activities you can create that fit with your chosen theme or objectives for the work?
Final Thoughts
Both of these posts have stressed the value of intentionality in experience design. By consciously deciding whom to cater to and how to engage them, IRL Experience Designers can craft more experiences that resonate stronger with their audience. Whether it’s through targeted activities that play to the strengths of each DISC type or another model of grouping the interests of your participants, you can improve the impact of your experiences when you consider the personalities of the people you are serving.