The Facilitation Canvas: Now Updated
Back in 2018, we released the first version of the Nomad8 Facilitation Canvas. It was a simple but powerful tool designed by Anthony Boobier to help facilitators, Agile coaches, and team leads prepare for better workshops, retrospectives, and collaborative sessions. Over the years it’s been downloaded, shared, and used all over the world.
We’re excited to share that we’ve just released a refreshed version of the canvas.
What’s new?
The original canvas served us well, but after seven years of working with teams, running ICAgile facilitation courses, and gathering feedback from practitioners, we saw room for improvement.
The updated version keeps the spirit of the original but adds more clarity, sharper prompts, and a friendlier layout for home printing.
Updated facilitation canvas: download it here!
Here’s what you’ll find in the new canvas:
Clearer structure: The eight sections are easier to use, with guiding questions that go straight to what matters.
Expanded prompts: More emphasis on agenda design and facilitation techniques, so you think not just about what will happen, but how.
Pitfalls section: A dedicated space to anticipate what could derail your session, helping you stay one step ahead.
A3 format: Designed for standard home printers—big enough to work on, easy enough to print and use anywhere.
The eight building blocks
Like the original, the updated canvas revolves around eight boxes, each one helping you plan for a successful session:
Purpose – Why are we here? What do we want to achieve?
Agenda – How will we structure the session?
Facilitation Techniques – Which exercises or approaches will we use?
People – Who needs to be in the room (or on the call)?
Inputs – What background or prep material is needed?
Pitfalls – What could go wrong, and how will we handle it?
Outcomes – What results do we want by the end?
Outputs – What concrete deliverables will come out of this session?
Why use it?
Great workshops don’t happen by chance. They are designed. The Facilitation Canvas gives you a lightweight, practical structure to do that design work. Whether you’re running a sprint planning, a leadership offsite, or a tricky retrospective, the canvas helps you prepare with intention.
Download the new canvas
The updated version is free to download and use. You’ll find it here:
Facilitation Canvas (A3 Standard Print).pdf
We hope it helps you plan and run even better workshops. And if you’ve been using the 2018 version, give this new one a try. You will feel the difference.