Types of participatory methods

Collective Reflection

Fishbowl discussion

Fishbowl discussion

Fishbowl is a participatory dynamic where a small group dialogues in the center while others observe, promoting active listening, multiple perspectives and deep reflection on complex topics.

Secret Santa

Secret Santa

Collective Rube Goldberg Machine

Collective Rube Goldberg Machine

Collective Rube Goldberg Machine is a participatory activity where teams collaboratively build a whimsical chain reaction device to perform a simple task, using creativity, problem-solving, and everyday materials to spark teamwork and fun experimentation.

Favorite Little Things

Favorite Little Things

I Like, I Wish, I Wonder

I Like, I Wish, I Wonder

I Like, I Wish, I Wonder is a participatory activity where people reflect on a shared experience by expressing what they appreciated, what they would improve, and what questions they are left with, creating a space for honest feedback, learning, and connection.

My Very First Job

My Very First Job

My Very First Job is a participatory activity where people share and listen to personal stories about their first work experiences, creating space for empathy, collective reflection, and recognition of diverse paths and learnings.

Collective DIY Mascot

Collective DIY Mascot

Collective DIY Mascot is a participatory activity in which a group builds a symbolic mascot together, adding one element at a time across weeks. The result is a creative, emotional representation of their collective identity.

Film Society

Film Society

Reading Club

Reading Club

Reading Club is a participatory activity where a group of people gathers to share impressions, ideas, and reflections based on a common text, fostering conversation, active listening, and collective learning.

Urban Sketching

Urban Sketching

Urban Sketching is a participatory activity where individuals draw real-life urban or community spaces through direct observation. It encourages artistic expression, fosters a deeper connection with the environment, and transforms everyday places into sources of inspiration and shared reflection.

Collaborative Life Drawing

Collaborative Life Drawing

Collaborative Live Drawing is an artistic and group-based activity where participants take turns drawing on each other's sheets, based on observation sessions with live models or objects. The constant rotation promotes collaboration, the exploration of multiple styles, and a collective reflection on perception, the body, and shared creation.

Confidence Vote

Confidence Vote

Guided Visualizations

Guided Visualizations

Guided Visualizations is a participatory activity where participants co-create a visualization in a chain format, exploring creativity and group connection through collective storytelling. It is ideal for fostering reflection, relaxation, and shared imagination.

Role Simulation

Role Simulation

Role Simulation is a participatory activity in which participants work in teams to create and act out different scenarios, exploring possible outcomes, dialogues, and decisions.

The Sunset

The Sunset

The Sunset is a participatory activity that invites participants to reflect on the importance of questions in the creative process.

Epic Failure

Epic Failure

Photo Storytelling

Photo Storytelling

Photo Storytelling is an activity where participants select random images and use them to construct a story, fostering creativity and group engagement.

Until the day I die

Until the day I die

Until the day I die is a collaborative activity where each participant shares a curious or memorable fact about themselves, fostering group connection and fun.

Collaborative data portrait

Collaborative data portrait

Collaborative Data Portrait is a visual activity where participants create a group portrait using graphically represented data, fostering self-expression and team connection. 

Circular Conversations

Circular Conversations

Circular Conversations is a group activity that combines movement and interaction to foster meaningful connections among participants.

Connecting People

Connecting People

Connecting People is a collaborative activity where participants interact based on observable descriptions, encouraging interaction, mutual understanding, and group fun.

Identity sliders

Identity sliders

Identity sliders is a participatory and collaborative activity to collectively build the vision and values of a group or project, fostering dialogue and cohesion.

Data-driven decisions

Data-driven decisions

Data-driven decisions is a collaborative activity designed to help teams classify key questions, explore research methods, and balance qualitative and quantitative insights to drive better decision-making.

5-Minute Ideas

5-Minute Ideas

Ideas in 5 Minutes is a rapid presentation activity that facilitates idea generation, knowledge sharing, and agile collaboration to address specific challenges.

The Iceberg Model

The Iceberg Model

The Iceberg Model is a mindful methodology that analyzes both visible and hidden aspects of products and services to foster sustainable and strategic design.

The Ladder of Abstraction

The Ladder of Abstraction

The Ladder of Abstraction is an activity that guides participants in reframing problems through both expansive and specific approaches, fostering strategic and innovative solutions.

How Might We (HMW)

How Might We (HMW)

How Might We is a Design Sprint methodology that transforms pain points into positive, collaborative questions, guiding the team toward creative solutions.

GROW Coaching

GROW Coaching

GROW Coaching is a collaborative activity that uses the GROW model to foster coaching skills and personal reflection, creating meaningful connections among participants.

First Impressions

First Impressions

First Impressions is a participatory activity that explores initial perceptions through the exchange of descriptive words related to communication and leadership styles.

Broken Telephone

Broken Telephone

Broken Telephone is a collaborative game that demonstrates how messages change when passed along, fostering communication skills, active listening, and creativity.

Safety Stories

Safety Stories

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Hangman

Hangman

Hangman is a classic collaborative activity that reinforces knowledge, fosters teamwork, and stimulates learning through fun and creativity.

Wishes

Wishes

Wishes is an icebreaker activity where participants share three wishes related to their expectations for the event, fostering group connection and helping the facilitator align the activity’s purpose with participants’ goals.

Zine Creation

Zine Creation

Zine Creation is an artistic and collaborative activity where participants design and assemble a small handmade publication, exploring a topic from multiple creative perspectives.

Back-to-Back Drawing

Back-to-Back Drawing

Back-to-Back Drawing is a participatory activity in which participants work in pairs to describe and reproduce an image without seeing it, fostering communication and active listening skills.

Yes, but...

Yes, but...

Yes, but... is a brainstorming activity where participants explore creative reasons to avoid taking a specific action, using avoidance as a tool to analyze barriers and encourage critical thinking.

The Question Ball

The Question Ball

The Question Ball is a playful and reflective activity where participants answer questions read by the facilitator upon receiving a ball, fostering group interaction in a fun and meaningful way.

The Letter

The Letter

The Letter is a reflective activity that allows participants to write meaningful messages to explore emotions, thoughts, and personal connections.

The Nine Questions Technique

The Nine Questions Technique

The Nine Questions Technique is a participatory methodology that provides a comprehensive structure for designing, planning, or evaluating projects. It promotes collective reflection and collaborative work by addressing all essential aspects of a project in an integrated way.

Stereotypes

Stereotypes

Stereotypes is a reflective activity that uses photographs to explore how prejudices and stereotypes influence our perceptions, fostering greater awareness about diversity and inclusion.

Backward Planning

Backward Planning

La Planificación retroactiva ayuda a identificar los pasos necesarios para lograr un objetivo trabajando desde el resultado final hacia el presente, promoviendo la estrategia y la claridad grupal.