Looking for a quick-hitting creative exercise that takes 2 minutes to set up and only 5 minutes to complete? Look no further.

Step 1: Print out three funny/interesting/weird photos.

I went with 1) a melting snowman holding a sign that reads “I’ll Be Dead Soon,” 2) a dog’s butt that had sunglasses on it (making his butt look like a face), and 3) a dude with a nose ring and face tattoos.

Step 2: Label the photos (1, 2, 3) and give each participant three sticky notes. (Instruct participants to label their sticky notes 1, 2, 3 as well.)

Step 3: Hold up each photo and have participants jot down one word (on the corresponding sticky note) to describe that photo. Make sure participants don’t peek at each other’s words!

Step 4: Collect all the sticky notes, shuffle them up, and read the words aloud. After reading each word, have participants guess which photo (1, 2, or 3) the word is describing.

What’s the point?

• Condensing your thoughts: It’s easy to describe something well when you can use a bunch of words, phrases, sentences, etc. But describing something well using only one word is a whole different ball game. This exercise forces you to condense your thoughts and succinctly describe an object’s true essence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coins. They rattle in our pockets. They roll clumsily into Coke machines. And – when compassion permits – they fall into tip jars as well as hats and cups that line city sidewalks.

But coins are more than just pieces of metal that denote monetary value: they’re pieces of content that carry creative value.

Coins have copy. Some is informative (“Quarter Dollar”), some promotes our country’s values (“Liberty”), and some even makes religious assertions (“In God We Trust”). Coins also have design elements. Some of these designs commemorate our Founding Fathers, while others showcase the cultural capital of specific states.

Creativity Exercise: Redesign the Quarter (and/or Other Coins)

• Prior to meeting with your group, grab a pen, some sticky notes, and a coffee mug (or other round object) and trace out a bunch of circles. These circles will serve as templates for your coins.

• Pass out markers, pens, or pencils to participants and announce which coins they’ll be redesigning. (I had my group redesign three coins: the quarter, the Chuck E. Cheese token, and our company’s virtual currency.)

• Allow each participant 10 seconds to add one element (copy or design) to each of the coins. A coin’s design is complete once everyone has contributed an element.

• Hold up the coins for all to see and have participants weigh in on which coins they like best.

What’s the point?

Collaboration: This exercise allows for free collaboration – no one plans out ahead of time what the designs will look like. Instead, ideas flow freely and elements appear on the coins spontaneously.

Timed Creativity: Allowing only 10 seconds for each element to be added to the coins really puts participants on the spot. It forces participants to be creative while also adhering to a tight deadline, which – as you might know – can be difficult.