User Research
Recess Community: Workshops, Meetups, & Markets
Lead researcher • Beyond digital
Role
Lead user researcher
Toolbox
Figma, Miro, Google Docs, Riverside.fm
The Rundown
I conducted user research for Recess Community, uncovering key opportunities to boost revenue and engagement.
The results? Plans to reintroduce branded merchandise for new income are underway; strategic pricing shifts now bring in 5–10% of sales; and automated text messaging drives higher event attendance and engagement online fueling sustainable growth.
Introduction
Within sociology, the concept of the "third space" denotes social settings distinct from the typical environments of home and the workplace. Human beings are innately social and find it important to feel connected with others and themselves, often through creative means, especially in an increasingly digital world. 


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Recess is a Toronto-based collective and space dedicated to helping people explore their creative curiosity. Through a variety of community and client-based projects, they use workshops, events, artist popups, and visuals to empower and connect others. In its heart of hearts, Recess is a third space.
How was Recess Community serving its community? Where could it improve and what do their members need more of? These are some of the questions Recess organizers needed answers to, in order to adjust and improve.
In response, I led the end-to-end user research to understand and propose solutions.
A nonprofit community studio space, who partners with local creatives to host workshops, meetups, in-house popups, and markets.
The Problem
After years of engaging the community, Recess faced challenges in sustaining its grassroots approach and questioned if its programming still met the community's evolving needs.
The Goal
Leverage user research insights to design and implement strategies that enhance Recess Community programming, addressing immediate attendee needs while supporting long-term growth and engagement goals
Attendee Experience
Understand the end-to-end experience of attendees who have participated in an event and or workshop to identify pain points and strengths.
Facilitator Experience
Gain insights into the workshop facilitator’s experience and identify opportunities for better collaboration.
Sustain Studio Costs
Explore revenue-generating opportunities that can contribute to financial sustainability such as covering the cost of programs, rent, supplies, studio upgrade etc.
Target User and Stakeholder
There are three main groups which encompass members and stakeholders. Since each user group has varied experiences based on their relationship with Recess Community, speaking to each of them was beneficial to paint a holistic picture of the people, process and technology that is in place.
Over the Course of this Research Phase
I conducted remote user interviews:
This built an understanding of:
Research Methodologies and Artifacts
Mapping Assumptions
Prior to beginning the user interview questions, I began to map assumptions. Mapping assumptions involved outlining the team’s beliefs about users, their needs, and their behaviors, to identify areas that needed validation. These assumptions were transformed into targeted questions, to ensure the interviews were focused on gathering the insights needed to confirm or challenge those beliefs.
End-user Assumptions
Process in a Nutshell
Collective Thoughts and Feelings
Participants highlighted its role as a supportive haven where like-minded creatives gather, fosters belonging and inspires creativity without judgment and reinforced its role as a catalyst for their creative growth.
“I feel like there's a lot of cliquiness in the art world, or the art scene of Toronto. And it sometimes feels hard to access, but I think at least from my perspective, I feel like Recess community isn't.”

“I get the most value out of the play, it puts me outside of my comfort zone because I don't create as much anymore so it pushes me to do something that I normally wouldn't do.”


User Journey Map
The following journey map illustrates their experience from discovering Recess to attending events and/or workshops. Including internal actions on the organizational side.
Takeaway
It provided stakeholders a highlevel view of their touchpoints, activities and how these affect the user's journey such as the rows for Business Goal, KPI, and Organizational Activities. They weren't explicitly tracking KPI's - such as how many guests signed up vs. how many attended - this was a reminder on the importance of measuring their progress and engagement.
In an Instagram Poll, We Asked:
180 accounts reached
97% accounts reached were followers
"What would you like to do more of at Recess Community?"
Key Insights
How might we improve Recess Communities visibility, collaboration, and improve financial needs for longterm sustainability and growth?
Pain Points
Improve Communication
"I find it helpful to know specific dates or times when things are gonna be promoted or when I need to have things ready to go up...working more collaboratively on that...” 


Resources and Financial Clarity
"...clear communication around how much do we need to charge people if we are gonna charge people? Or is there another way to get funding for it? Cause art supplies are just expensiveӉ۬
Missing Events
“Some sort of mechanism for just knowing what events are coming up outside of social media would be really helpful.”
Based on Insights I Proposed...
Deporitize Online Workshops
Solution
Because online workshops could be cost effective, stakeholders contemplated on including online formats. However, user interviews revealed low interest in online workshops, leading stakeholders to deprioritize this option in favour of more engaging alternatives. The Instagram poll also gave insight into designing and scheduling the next series of engaging formats.
“I personally don't love online workshops in general so I probably wouldn't opt for that option as much.”... It's not super compelling for me."
Solution
Financial and Resource Streams
In a competitive analysis, it was revealed that Recess Community charges less or often waived entirely for space usage compared to its competitors. While this approach aligns with their grassroots ethos, it could pose financial challenges in the long run.


Additionally, their Shopify storefront that provides a platform to sell products with minimal barriers, amplifying community voices and encouraging entrepreneurship.
Similarly, all proceeds from workshop ticket sales currently go directly to facilitators that are selected to collaborate, reinforcing their dedication to giving back. However, this model may need to be revisited to ensure the studio generates sufficient funds for its sustainability and growth.

Solution
Promoting Recess Community
Recess Community is deeply appreciated and produces excellent content showcasing its studio. However, its reach remains limited, with low visibility among current followers at times and there are potential new audiences seeking a space like this.
Solution
Facilitator Collaboration
Recess Community supports workshop collaborations by creating promotional assets for events, or facilitators can provide their own for publication on Instagram. While this eases facilitators' workload, some expressed feeling uninformed about the scheduling of posts, highlighting a need for clearer communication and/or inclusion.
Project Outcomes
It’s rewarding to see Recess Community implementing short-term recommendations. Additionally, they’ve placed a greater emphasis on tracking key metrics, such as Instagram followers and email newsletter sign-ups—an essential practice that they had previously begun to overlook.
Project Takeaways
What drew me to this project was because it was a third space and I appreciate how it highlights the creative scene in Toronto and how it brings people together.
A few months before starting, I came across a widely shared article, "Toronto could be one of Canada's loneliest cities, according to a new report." (CTV News). This struck me, as I could relate to the idea of loneliness in a bustling city.
As a remote worker in Toronto, I’ve struggled to find spaces that cater to creativity, offer a sense of community—especially for POC—and remain affordable. After engaging with users and reflecting on my own experiences, I found that Recess Community has managed to make Toronto feel less isolating for its residents, providing a much-needed third space to connect and create.
01
Challenged me to think beyond screens
Designing for in-person, interactive experiences reminded me of the power of physical environments, human interaction, and social dynamics in shaping community connections.
02
Overwhelmingly positive feedback can be hard to use
I was looking for critiques from the attendees about their experiences. However, most feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Follow-ups and scenario-based questions further helped uncover hidden insights.
03
Adults need creative play
It is a way to disconnect from daily stressors and enter a state of flow. By exploring different forms of creative expression—like painting, writing, or dance—adults can uncover hidden talents, build confidence, and communicate their ideas or emotions more effectively.
Questions?
If you're interested in learning more about this project, please feel free to get in touch with me.