A charrette is an intensive period of collaborative design or planning. The term is traditionally used to describe the work involved in meeting a deadline or solving a problem by a design team. In its modern usage it is often extended to describe planning sessions that capture the requirements or ideas of stakeholders.
History
The word charrette is French for "cart." The use of the term to describe design sessions is thought to have originated at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris in the 19th century. Students working on a deadline would work overnight, often for days in a row. It was a common practice at the school to collect completed work in a cart. The term implies a furious effort to complete a work at the last moment as it's going into the cart.
Cookies help us deliver our services. You have choices regarding these cookies. Please visit our privacy policy, cookie policy and consent tool to learn more.
Copyright 2002-2026 Simplicable. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed or translated. Report violations here.
