Goal

Wake up a sleepy room

Quick 2-5 minute activities to reset the room when energy drops unexpectedly. Unlike planned session openers, energizers are spontaneous interventions when you notice the group flagging. Keep several in your back pocket for any workshop—you never know when you'll need them. The best energizers get people physically moving, create moments of laughter, or break the pattern of sitting and listening. Don't explain why you're doing them; just jump in.

Showing 10 of 10 exercises

5-Minute User Interview

15 mins 4

Practice interviewing under pressure. Five minutes forces you to ask meaningful questions. Constraints reveal skill. You can't waste time on small tal...

App First Impressions

10 mins

Participants share first reactions to popular apps, discussing what grabbed their attention or caused confusion. This helps teams understand the impor...

Favorite Design Tool

10 mins

Participants use gestures and one-word descriptions to embody their favorite design tools. This energizing activity builds shared understanding of des...

Quick Prototype Review

25 mins 3

Prototype reviews often miss the mark, being either too gentle or overly harsh. This structured approach ensures constructive feedback without harming...

Research Synthesis & Affinity Mapping

3 hours 2

You've done the research. You're now facing hundreds of data points. Affinity mapping brings clarity. Cluster observations until themes emerge from th...

Sketch Your Mood

10 mins

Participants visually express their current emotional state or energy level through simple sketches. This exercise activates visual thinking and build...

Two Truths And A Lie: Work Edition

15 mins

This is a twist on the classic 'Two Truths and a Lie' game. Participants share surprising work stories. It builds team connection and reveals hidden d...

UI Element Human

10 mins

Participants physically embody user interface (UI) elements with movement and sound. This exercise builds shared understanding of design principles an...

User Needs Analysis

2 hours 1

User needs analysis cuts through stated wants to reveal actual needs. There's often a gap. Someone asking for a faster horse may need quicker transpor...

Values Mapping

2 hours

Teams often say they value "innovation" and "collaboration." But what do those words really mean? Values mapping makes the abstract concrete. Map out ...