Fishbowl Dialogue
Qué es
A conversation format that dissolves the wall between speakers and audience. A few chairs form an inner circle; only people sitting there speak. One chair is always left empty, so anyone from the outer circle can step in, contribute, and step out again.
It keeps a panel honest and alive, and turns a one-way talk into shared insight the whole room helps create.
Cuándo usarla
- You want a panel or discussion that includes the audience, not just experts.
- You want to hear many voices without losing focus.
- A topic benefits from openness and shifting perspectives.
Cómo implementarla
An inner circle speaks; an empty chair lets anyone join and shape the conversation.
- Set up
Set the circles
Arrange an inner circle of chairs (with one left empty) inside a wider audience circle, and explain the one rule.
Qué produces- Inner and outer circles, one empty chair
- Open
Open with a spark
A few seed participants start the conversation around a clear question.
Qué produces- A live conversation under way
- Flow
Invite the room in
Anyone can take the empty chair to speak, then return to the outer circle so others can join.
Qué produces- Audience voices shaping the dialogue
- Harvest
Close with insight
Draw out the shared insight and practical takeaways the room co-created.
Qué produces- Shared conclusions and takeaways
A lively alternative to a panel, good for opening or closing an event. It pairs well with dialogue and planning methods.
- World Café — another way to include many voices
- Building Community — to frame the questions worth discussing
- Inclusion Action Plan — to turn insight into commitments
Fishbowl Canvas
Use this canvas to plan a fishbowl that includes the whole room. Print it at A3, or fill it in with your hosting team.
Topic & question
The question the fishbowl will explore.
The setup
Inner-circle size, the empty chair, and the outer circle.
Roles
A facilitator, seed speakers and a timekeeper.
Ground rules
How people join and leave the inner circle; how you keep it safe and open.
Seed speakers
Who starts the conversation, and why them?
Inviting the room
How you encourage the audience to take the empty chair.
Capturing insight
How you record the ideas that emerge.
Takeaways
The shared insight and practical recommendations to close with.
Cómo facilitar una sesión
A guide to hosting a fishbowl — how to set the circles, open the dialogue, and bring the room in.
1 Prepara
- Choose a clear question and 3–4 seed speakers with different perspectives.
- Arrange an inner circle of chairs (one left empty) inside a wider audience circle.
- Brief the seed speakers to start, then make room for others.
- Agree a facilitator to hold the one rule and keep the empty chair flowing.
2 Dirige la sesión
- 5 minSet up — explain the format and the empty-chair rule.
- 10 minOpen — seed speakers begin around the question.
- 25 minFlow — invite the audience to take the empty chair, speak, and return.
- 10 minHarvest — the facilitator draws out shared insight and takeaways.
- 5 minClose — thank the room and name the practical recommendations.
3 Después
- Share the takeaways and recommendations with participants.
- Feed them into your planning or a follow-up session.
- Note what worked about the format for next time.
4 En formato virtual
- Use a video call where only inner-circle participants have camera and mic on; others request the empty seat via chat.
- A co-host manages who steps in and out to keep it smooth.
- Capture insight live on a shared board.
- Prefer privacy-respecting tools, and agree recording consent up front.
Ejemplo de implementación del proyecto Labs4Change
During the final conference we presented the panel "Co-Creating Impact: How Inclusive Methodologies and Intersectionality Drive Social Innovation in Higher Education," focusing on moving beyond performative inclusion towards practical, research-driven methodologies. Moderated by Laura Figón (2811), the panel featured Dr. Karina Maldonado-Mariscal (TU Dortmund / Kaunas University of Technology) and Dr. Georgios Ampatzidis (University of Thessaly). It was structured as an introduction, a core discussion around five guiding questions, and a concluding fishbowl session. With insight from speakers and audience alike, the session closed with practical recommendations for making teaching syllabuses and research projects fundamentally more inclusive, emphasising that social innovation must be co-created with communities, not just for them.
When members of the audience step onto the main stage and co-create insight with the specialists.
¿Exploraste los recursos de Labs4Change? Comparte tu feedback
Tus primeras impresiones nos ayudarán a mejorar la plataforma, el Toolkit y otros resultados del proyecto, y a hacerlos más útiles y accesibles para futuras personas usuarias.
Recursos y referencias
- Reference Liberating Structures — Users Experience Fishbowl A facilitation pattern that includes everyone.