Low-Tech Social Network

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Map existing relationships and common backgrounds across a room on a physical wall.

Use it when: Use at the start of a multi-day conference, retreat, or large cross-team kickoff where people have varied prior relationships.

Skip it when: Skip when the group already works together daily and knows each other well, or when wall space and movement are heavily restricted.

Group arrangement: Individual card creation followed by open whole-room wall mapping.

Timing: 25 minutes reflects the primary build duration in the Gamestorming source record.

Materials and tools

• One 5x8 index card per participant
• One roll of painter tape or masking tape
• One medium felt-tip marker per participant
• Butcher paper or flip-chart paper taped to cover a wall area at least 8 feet wide by 4 feet high
• One digital whiteboard template with profile cards if running online or hybrid

Before participants arrive

1. Tape a long run of butcher paper along an accessible wall at standing eye level.
2. Place one 5x8 index card and one marker at every seat.
3. Pre-tear strips of painter tape or leave tape dispensers within reach of the wall.

Say this to open

We are going to build a physical social network on this wall. You will each draw a profile card with an avatar, stick it up, and then draw lines to connect with people you know or share interests with.

How to run it

1. Introduce profile creation 3 minutes

   Explain the activity using the opening script. Direct participants to take their 5x8 index card and draw a simple avatar or profile picture in the top half. Ask them to write their preferred name at the bottom, along with two topical tags or interests. For example: 'Hiking' and 'Data architecture'. Allow stick figures, abstract icons, or plain symbols.

2. Draw profile cards 7 minutes

   Participants work individually at their seats to complete their card. Circulate to offer extra tape or assist anyone who prefers a scribe. Signal the room when two minutes remain.

3. Post cards and map connections 10 minutes

   Invite participants to bring their card, tape, and marker to the butcher paper wall. People tape their card anywhere on the paper. Once posted, participants draw lines between their card and cards of people they recognize or share common ground with. Instruct them to write a short label on each line, such as 'Former coworker', 'Same department', or 'Both knit'. People may also read cards to discover new connections and draw new lines.

4. Debrief the network map 5 minutes

   Gather the group in front of the wall. Take three observations from volunteers about patterns they see across the map. Leave the mural up for the remainder of the event so people can add lines during breaks.

Debrief questions

• Looking at the network map, what clusters or surprise links stand out immediately?
• Where do you notice gaps or isolated cards that could use more connections today?
• What is one common interest you spotted on someone else's card that you want to ask about later?

Finished output: A wall-sized paper map showing participant cards connected by labeled relationship lines, which remains on display for ongoing additions.

Remote

Set up a shared digital whiteboard canvas with a pre-formatted rectangle for each person. In step 1 and 2, participants sketch an avatar using digital pen tools or upload an image, then type their name and two tags. In step 3, participants use the board's connector arrow tool to draw lines between cards and type relationship labels onto the line paths. Run a 5-minute debrief in the main video room.

Hybrid

In-person participants use the physical paper wall while remote participants use a linked digital whiteboard. Assign a room proxy to print or copy remote cards onto physical 5x8 index cards, post them to the physical wall, and draw requested connection lines voiced or chatted by remote members. Screen-share the digital board and point a room camera at the butcher paper wall so both groups see the shared network develop.

Access and participation choices

• Participants may draw abstract symbols, geometric shapes, or simply write their initials instead of drawing a pictorial face.
• Physical access: place butcher paper low enough for seated or wheelchair reach, and offer facilitator assistance to tape cards or draw lines across higher zones.
• Passing option: participants may post only their name and tags without drawing lines, or browse the wall without adding personal connections.

If the session gets stuck

Participants bunch up closely and block each other from reaching the butcher paper.

Ask half the group to post their cards first while the other half finishes their tags, then swap so traffic remains spread out.

Lines cross excessively, turning the paper into an unreadable tangle.

Remind participants that messy spaghetti lines are expected in this activity; advise them to write line labels close to the cards rather than in the center intersections.

Terms used here

• Avatar: A small hand-drawn visual or symbol representing yourself, like a profile picture.