The Safer People Feel, the Riskier They Behave. Design for That.
Could better safety gear actually increase injuries? This full-day workshop teaches the counterintuitive science of risk perception, and the eight-element Vulnerability Matrix you can use to design environments where the safe choice is also the natural one.
Five Elements. One System for Designing How People Actually Behave.
Each module builds toward the same tool: a working Vulnerability Matrix you can apply to your own environment, product, or process.
The Vulnerability Matrix
Master the eight-element Vulnerability Matrix, a system for tuning environments so people default to the safest, most effective, or most exciting behavior depending on what you actually need.
Hidden Systems Thinking
Develop the MetaSkill of seeing the invisible connections between environment, human nature, and behavioral outcomes, so you can spot the systems most people miss entirely.
Risk Homeostasis Literacy
Understand the scientific basis for why humans "offset" safety improvements with riskier behavior, so your next safety upgrade doesn't quietly create a new problem.
Behavioral Programming
Learn how to elicit specific, desired behaviors by adjusting the perceived level of vulnerability in a system, rather than relying on rules or warnings alone.
Optimal Outcome Design
Gain the technical know-how to achieve design outcomes that traditional "common sense" safety approaches consistently miss, and prove it with real evidence.
One Full Day. Here's Exactly What You're Signing Up For.
Where did InceptionU help me? Where did they not. They helped me rewire my entire way of thinking. I may not know the answers now — but I know I can find them. That makes me feel ready for basically anything.
Greg has personally assessed nearly 200 design solutions for companies in various industries ranging from software development to tech manufacturing and heavy industry. He is also an instructor at the University of Calgary’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape.
Before your team signs up, let's answer the obvious ones.
Is this actually backed by real research, or is it just a fun idea?
It's grounded in real, well-documented research on risk homeostasis and risk perception. The hockey elbow pad example is illustrative, not the whole argument.
Is this only relevant to physical safety, like construction or sports?
No. The Vulnerability Matrix applies to physical environments, digital products, workplace culture, and public policy, anywhere you're trying to influence how people behave.
Is this program available online, in-person, or both?
See the Session Logistics above for details on the current cohort. If you're outside Calgary and interested in a virtual option, get in touch and we'll let you know what's available.
Can I register as a team, or book a private session for my organization?
Yes. Group rates apply for five or more seats. If you're looking to run this as a private session for your team, reach out and we'll put together a proposal tailored to your organization's needs and schedule.
What do you mean when you mention MetaSkills? What are they, and how will they help me?
Tools don't solve problems. People do. Our ability to use MetaSkills — critical thinking, systems thinking, creative thinking, computational thinking, design, and collaboration — are timeless competencies central to your future success. These aren't just career skills; they have impact across every area of your life.
Every InceptionU program is built around developing these alongside the technical content. That's what makes the learning stick.
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What is your cancellation policy?
If you cancel 10 or more days before the program start date, you'll receive a full refund. Cancellations between 10 days and 24 hours before the start date can be transferred to a future cohort at no additional cost. For cancellations within 24 hours of the start date, we're not able to process a refund or transfer — but reach out anyway and we'll see what we can do.
Is InceptionU an accredited institution?
Fortunately, we are not. That gives us the freedom to be agile and adaptable as technology and industries evolve. We work closely with industry partners to design programming that aligns with real workforce needs — not what was relevant five years ago. If you'd like our full perspective on credentials and credentialing, read our take on the blog.
Book Your Custom Cohort — Design Environments Where the Safe Choice Actually Wins.
Safety measures that don't account for human behaviour just move the risk somewhere else. This workshop gives you the system to design for how people actually respond, not how you wish they would.
Questions about private team delivery, group pricing, or scheduling a custom date? Drop your details and we'll be in touch within one business day.