Get ready to collaborate - Sketch Something

Icebreakers are great for helping workshop participants feel relaxed and engaged, particularly when they don't know each other. In learning design thinking and collaboration, getting thoughts out of our heads is the first core mindset to establish. That's why I designed 'Sketch Something' to kickstart the Happyer Skills User Experience Design course

The sketch exercise is inspired by Jose Berengueres in his book Sketch Thinking: Learn to communicate your ideas with simple drawing techniques, which aims to help people become comfortable with sketching and building a graphic vocabulary.?

Flexing the sketching muscles

To begin, I articulated that sketches are less intimidating than drawings. Sketching is quick, doesn't need to be perfect, and only requires simple materials like Post-it notes and Sharpies. I had the participants warm up by sketching a man, a star man, and a man who does ballet.?

Discovering diversity in interpretation

Next, I challenged them to do 8 sketches based on 8 keywords, with only 8 seconds to finish each sketch. They then compared their sketches with their peers, leading to rounds of laughter. This was followed by a guided ORID reflection to discover the importance of alignment and collaboration, and how a group of people can interpret the same concept differently.?

1. What do you see? How do your sketches differ from that of your group mates? (Facts)
2. When was the moment you felt frustrated/ fun? (Emotions)
3. How did it tell you about group work/collaboration? (Interpretation)
4. What is ONE thing you will try with Post-Its and Sharpies? (Decision)

The facilitative mindset behind this icebreaker is to recognize group diversity, reduce mental barriers to sketching (by setting the expectation up front and using timeboxing), and make it easier to start conversations with other participants. By comparing sketches, participants can visualize differences without language barriers, and the icebreaker allows them to see and appreciate different interpretations of the same concept. For example, on the far right of the photo below, I told them to sketch "Success", which was translated into trophy, smiles, checklist, home with love and thumbs up.

P.S. Can you guess which eight keywords were used here? Tips: they go from left to right, from the more universal to the more abstract.

Try this icebreaker in your next collaboration session to help participants feel at ease and ready to collaborate. Let me know if it helps! #FacSnippet?#facilitation?#designthinking?#journey

"Sketch Something" in a glance

• Objective : To help participants get used to expressing their ideas using Sharpies and Post-it and understand that everyone has different perspectives
• Duration : 15 min
• Group size : 8-20 people
• Format : In-person
• Materials needed: Post-its, Sharpies (thick one), a list of keywords?

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