In 2023, our engineering and product teams had their first Exploration Day events, two special occasions in our calendar dedicated to exploration, experimentation, and collaboration beyond our usual roadmap. 

Origins and Purpose

I recently had the chance to sit down with Marc Asher, the brains behind Exploration Days, to delve into their roots and significance. According to Marc, it all began with a simple yet profound desire: to create a space where our team could freely explore new ideas without disrupting our daily workflow. 

"We wanted a dedicated time where everyone could share their ideas, experiment freely, and quickly determine their viability," Marc shared. And thus, Bright Exploration Days was born—a day dedicated to propelling Bright to new heights through innovation and agility.

A Day of Collaboration and Creativity

So, what exactly happens on an Exploration Day? According to Marc, it's a day filled with collaboration, creativity, and, of course, breaks for coffee, pizza, and team bonding. "Before the actual day itself, we establish a theme for the Exploration Day —something that's been on our minds or a challenge we want to tackle that is also of value to Bright," Marc explained. "Once the theme is determined, people can submit their ideas in Github and when ideas are approved people can sign up and form teams. Then, on the day itself, teams dive into brainstorming sessions, coding, and prototype development." 

Before wrapping up with a well-deserved AW, the day culminates with short presentations where teams present what they have accomplished. These presentations serve as a springboard for further discussion and potential integration into our product roadmap.

Impactful Projects and Promising Futures

One of the most rewarding aspects of Exploration Days, Marc shared, is witnessing the tangible impact of our efforts unfold in real time. "We've had projects that started as ideas and ended up making a real difference for our team and our customers," Marc recounted. "It's a reminder that innovation doesn't always come from grand plans—it can stem from small beginnings and experiments."

One such example is our assets in Bright Bridge. Previously, changing app icons, logos, or colors required developer and UX involvement, resulting in time delays. With assets directly in Bright Bridge, customers can make these changes effortlessly, freeing up our team's time for more valuable pursuits.

Looking Ahead

As for the future of Exploration Days, Marc envisions further expansion and refinement of the initiative: "We're considering expanding to multiple days to allow for deeper exploration and reflection," he mused. "And who knows, maybe we'll expand it to other teams outside of product and engineering, making it a company-wide event."

When it comes down to it, Exploration Days are all about spurring innovation, trying out new things, and getting creative. They're also a breather from the usual routine, pushing us to work together across teams and share what we know with each other. It's a low-risk, safe space to innovate, paving the way for a brighter future together.