Graphic Jam
Graphic Jam is a team reflection exercise for reflection and learning: it helps participants reflect on experience and turn observations into learning.
How to run it
- Establish a large, flat, white display area for this game. Give all players access to sticky notes and index cards.
- Ask them to take 1-2 minutes to write words on the index cards that they have difficulty conceptualizing and drawing, like “quality” or “teamwork.” Ask for one word or phrase per index card.
- Gather all of the contributions, shuffle them, and then draw one card and read it aloud to the group. Tape it up in the white space.
- Ask the players to reflect on the word and draw a visual representation of it on a sticky note so that it can be posted on the wall. Give them 2-3 minutes to do so.
- Have the players approach the white space and post their sticky note under the index card with the related word.
- By the end of the game, you’ll have a gallery space of visualized concepts. Ask the group to spend time looking at how others interpreted the words.
- The Graphic Jam game inspired by the same-named activity created by Leslie Salmon-Zhu, co-founder of the International Forum of Visual Practitioners.
- . Establish a large, flat, white display area for this game. Give all players access to sticky notes and index cards.
- . Ask them to take 1-2 minutes to write words on the index cards that they have difficulty conceptualizing and drawing, like “quality” or “teamwork.” Ask for one word or phrase per index card.
- . Gather all of the contributions, shuffle them, and then draw one card and read it aloud to the group. Tape it up in the white space.
Run this exercise live
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Materials:
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Prompts to use +
Establish a large, flat, white display area for this game. Give all players access to sticky notes and index cards.
Ask them to take 1-2 minutes to write words on the index cards that they have difficulty conceptualizing and drawing, like “quality” or “teamwork.” Ask for one word or phrase per index card.
Gather all of the contributions, shuffle them, and then draw one card and read it aloud to the group. Tape it up in the white space.
Ask the players to reflect on the word and draw a visual representation of it on a sticky note so that it can be posted on the wall. Give them 2-3 minutes to do so.
Have the players approach the white space and post their sticky note under the index card with the related word.
By the end of the game, you’ll have a gallery space of visualized concepts. Ask the group to spend time looking at how others interpreted the words.
Run this with your AI assistant +
Works with Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or your own local model: paste this prompt and your AI will co-facilitate this exercise with you.
Adapt this exercise for my exact room. Exercise: Graphic Jam. Readiness: Publishable Draft. Core moves: Establish a large, flat, white display area for this game. Give all players access to sticky notes and index cards.; Ask them to take 1-2 minutes to write words on the index cards that they have difficulty conceptualizing and drawing, like “quality” or “teamwork.” Ask for one word or phrase per index card.; Gather all of the contributions, shuffle them, and then draw one card and read it aloud to the group. Tape it up in the white space.; Ask the players to reflect on the word and draw a visual representation of it on a sticky note so that it can be posted on the wall. Give them 2-3 minutes to do so.. Return a concise facilitator script with timing, wording, safety notes, and remote/in-person adjustments.
Origin unverified
- Where we observed it: The strongest current observations come from Gamestorming; aggregators are listed as additional observations, not origin proof. (1 source observed, including Gamestorming.)
- What that means: we track where an exercise has been observed in public sources. We do not claim to know who created it, or how popular it is.
- No efficacy claims: appearing in this library is not a claim that the exercise is proven effective. Facilitator judgment and context decide whether it works for a given room.
- Corrections: if you have evidence of an earlier or more accurate source, read our methodology and trust boundary and tell us.