Running an online World Café
For shared knowledge, new insight and a conversation that keeps moving.
An active format
An online World Café makes large conversations personal and manageable.
The World Café format is ideal for exchanging knowledge and building shared understanding. We translate this powerful format into an online setting — with table conversations, rounds, hosts and a plenary harvest that makes the result visible.
Small conversations, a large harvest
Participants move in small groups along a set of central questions. By switching rounds, insights travel through the whole group.
Building a shared picture
An online World Café helps people understand each other's perspectives and see patterns. Good design supports both the process and the content.
Captured digitally as it happens
Results are gathered during the session in canvases, notes or thematic harvests. That produces an overview quickly.
In practice
Three examples. Years of experience.
Knowledge networkSharing experience around a current theme
A professional network wants its members to learn from each other. We design an online World Café with several rounds and a shared report back.
Internal organisationLearning from projects together
An organisation wants to gather lessons from different teams. Combining table conversations with a digital harvest produces a picture that's both broad and concrete.
PartnershipShared understanding across organisations
A group of organisations is looking for common ground. Online table conversations bring experiences and ideas together and produce a shared language as a starting point for working together.
Preparation is everything
Who it's for
Organisations that want to learn from and with each other
Group size
20-400 participants
What a successful running an online world café needs.
01
Strong central questions
A World Café stands or falls by its questions. They have to be open enough for conversation and sharp enough to deliver.
02
Enough rounds
With three to five rounds insights really do travel. Switching tables is what makes the method powerful.
03
A clear harvest
Gather the insights along the way, not only afterwards. That way nothing is lost and a usable overview appears.
Frequently asked questions
How does an online World Café work?
In an online World Café, participants talk in small groups around a set of central questions. After each round they switch tables and take the insights with them into the next conversation.
How many people can take part?
We run online World Cafés for roughly 20 to well over 400 participants.
What is an online World Café good for?
The format suits questions where sharing knowledge, building a common picture and gathering perspectives are what matter.
How are the insights captured?
The results are gathered digitally as they come. That produces an overview of themes, insights and recommendations.
Which software do you use?
For a World Café we prefer a platform where conversation runs naturally and people can switch tables easily. SpatialChat works excellently for that. Book a demo and see it in action.
What does an online World Café cost?
That depends on the group size, the design and the facilitation.
More answers?Fewer answers
Can a World Café be hybrid?
Yes. But as with other hybrid gatherings that asks for careful design and a strong alignment of the tools in use.
How long does an online World Café take?
Usually between 90 minutes and 3 hours.
How many rounds are usual?
We often work with three to five rounds, depending on the subject.
Which subjects suit a World Café?
Above all, questions where different perspectives and experiences matter.
Can participants switch tables?
Yes. That's an essential part of the method.
What happens to the harvest?
The insights gathered are brought together and can serve as input for next steps, policy or decisions.
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Next step
Online, but not as you know it.
Orientation
See what we do
From strategy day to online team building — see which event formats fit what you're after.
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