Creators collaborating in a warm, sunlit workshop space
Collaborative Design Experience

The Design Table

You arrive with a concept. You leave with a blueprint.

A 3-day live intensive for wellness and personal growth creators who want to design their signature program — guided by an educational psychologist, surrounded by peers who get it.

3 Days Live Intensive
Limited to 20 Seats per Cohort
1 Blueprint Launch-Ready
Reserve Your Seat →

Most creators build programs alone. And it shows.

The wellness and personal growth creator space has a structural problem: the people with the deepest expertise in transformation are often the least trained in how to design educational experiences.

6–12 mo

The average time creators spend trying to design a program alone before launching — or giving up entirely.

$399B

The projected global wellness retreat market by 2030. The gap isn't audience size. It's retreat design expertise.

3 Days

The time it takes to produce a complete, peer-tested blueprint when you're in the room with the right facilitator and the right peers.

"Stop building alone. Start building with the room."

What you'll leave with

This is not a conference. Not a mastermind. Not a weekend of vague motivation. You leave with a complete, peer-tested, launch-ready program blueprint.

Your Signature Program Blueprint

A complete, structured program design — learning objectives, curriculum arc, module structure, and delivery format — built using proven instructional design frameworks (ADDIE, SAM, Bloom’s Taxonomy).

Speed to Launch

Most creators spend 6–12 months iterating alone. You collapse that timeline into 3 days of facilitated design work with a structured 60-day path to take your blueprint from event to launched program.

A 60-Day Launch Path

You don’t just leave with a blueprint — you leave with a clear implementation timeline, structured check-ins, and the momentum to get from event to launched program within 60 days.

Peer-Tested Confidence

Structured, honest feedback from fellow wellness creators at your level. The kind of peer perspective that surfaces blind spots no amount of solo work can reveal.

Expert Facilitation

Guided by Ryan Howard — an educational psychologist and retreat design strategist who brings evidence-based instructional design methodology to the work you’re doing in human transformation.

Built-In Collaboration Network

You’re designing alongside 10–20 creators in the same industry. The relationships formed at The Design Table become cross-promotion partners, referral sources, and co-facilitators. This isn’t networking — it’s building your business ecosystem in real time.

How the days unfold

Every session is designed around you doing the work — not watching someone talk. You’re building your blueprint in real time.

1

Arrival + Activation

Define the transformation your program delivers

We start with the end in mind: What measurable transformation does your program deliver? You’ll articulate your core promise, map your ideal learner’s journey, and establish the foundational architecture of your program using The Transformation Arc.

  • Opening circle: shared agreements, psychological safety norms, visual overview of The Transformation Arc
  • First Micro-Pact: each creator drafts their participants’ emotional arc
  • Pod work: early arc drafts reviewed for peer feedback; early friction identified

You leave Day 1 with: your transformation promise and foundational program architecture.

2

Friction + Integration

Pressure-test your design with peers and rebuild what doesn’t hold

This is the intensive design day. Your concepts run through the Arc’s non-negotiables. Gaps get confronted. You’ll build your module structure, sequence learning experiences, and pressure-test every element with structured peer review.

  • Friction Lab: retreat concepts run through the Arc’s non-negotiables; gaps confronted
  • Pod observation round: structured peer feedback on emerging blueprints
  • Blueprint build sessions: session-by-session design, Micro-Pact sequencing, Behavior Pod architecture

You leave Day 2 with: a structurally complete blueprint.

3

Integration + Continuation

Finalize your blueprint, present to the room, and map your 60-day launch

Final refinements, full group presentations, and honest feedback. You’ll refine your pricing strategy, map your launch timeline, and leave with a concrete 60-day action plan.

  • Complete the Retreat Transformation Blueprint — all components finalized as working v1
  • Peer Mirrors: each creator hears what shifted in their pod’s thinking and design
  • Closing circle: your program’s emotional arc presented in one sentence; bridge to launch set

You leave Day 3 with: a finished, peer-tested blueprint and a 60-day launch plan.

The cohort is designed for a specific kind of creator

This is for you if:

  • You’re a wellness or personal growth creator with an engaged audience who trusts your guidance
  • You have a program concept (or an existing program that underperforms) and want to get it right
  • You want expert-guided design backed by educational psychology — not another DIY template or business mastermind
  • You’re ready to be in the room — to design alongside peers, receive honest feedback, and leave with a finished blueprint
  • You want to launch within 60 days of attending

This probably isn't the right fit if:

  • You're looking for a general business mastermind or networking event
  • You don't have a subject area or audience yet
  • You want someone to build the program for you (that’s what the Build Sprint is for)
  • You prefer to work at your own pace (consider our virtual format instead)

Same frameworks used in $8K–15K custom engagements — delivered in a live, immersive format.

Virtual
$1,500 / seat

4-week guided program. Same frameworks, delivered virtually for creators who can’t attend in person.

  • 4 weekly live group sessions
  • Pre-program preparation materials
  • Your completed program blueprint
  • Peer feedback and group accountability
  • Alumni community access
Reserve Your Seat →

Payment plans are available for both formats. Applications are reviewed to ensure fit — this keeps the room intimate and the work meaningful. Click “Payment plans” above to send an inquiry about getting one.

Designed by a Learning Architect. Built by You.

Ryan Howard, Founder of Thought Leader Workshop

Ryan Howard

Psychology-Trained Retreat Design Strategist

Learn more about the brain behind the operation, Ryan Howard.

Frequently asked questions

A complete program blueprint: learning objectives, curriculum arc, module structure, delivery format, engagement mechanisms, pricing strategy, and a 60-day launch plan. Not notes. Not ideas. A finished, peer-tested blueprint ready to build from.

Masterminds offer inspiration. Conferences offer exposure. The Live Cohort Experience produces a tangible deliverable — your program blueprint. Every session is facilitated working time, not panels or keynotes. You're doing the work, not watching someone else talk about it.

No. You can come with a concept, an idea, or a half-built program. You do need a clear subject area and an audience (or a clear path to one). The cohort works whether you're starting from scratch or redesigning something that already exists.

Both formats use the same frameworks and produce a completed program blueprint. The in-person Design Table is the full experience — 3 days of immersive, facilitated design work with direct access to Ryan, Behavior Pod formation, structured peer review, and cross-promotion strategy sessions. The virtual format covers the same material over 4 weeks, but the depth of peer connection and creative intensity that comes from being in the room together is unique to the live event.

The next in-person Design Table will be held at a venue selected specifically to foster focused, creative work. Dates and location are announced to the interest list first — join below to be the first to know.

The application ensures everyone in the room is at a similar stage and ready to do the work. It keeps the cohort focused (limited to 20 seats), and valuable for every participant. It also gives us a chance to have a brief conversation about your goals so we can personalize the experience.

You don’t need a finished concept. You can come with an idea, a half-built program, or something you want to completely redesign. What you do need is a clear subject area and an audience (or a clear path to one). The Design Table works whether you’re starting from scratch or rebuilding something that already exists.

Yes. We offer flexible payment plans for both the virtual and in-person formats. Details are provided after your application is accepted.

3 days. One blueprint that changes everything. Limited to 20 seats.

The next Design Table is coming soon. Applications are limited to ensure every participant gets the attention and facilitation they deserve.

RESERVE YOUR SEAT →

Not ready to apply? Get on the interest list.

Be the first to know when dates, location, and early bird pricing are announced. No spam — just cohort updates.

You're on the list. We'll reach out as soon as the next cohort is announced.