Make A World
It can be any topic that would benefit from the group advancing it to a desired future state (e.g., “Our new branch location in Austin” or “Our future marketing strategy”).
How to run it
- Before the meeting, determine a meeting topic. It can be any topic that would benefit from the group advancing it to a desired future state (e.g., “Our new branch location in Austin” or “Our future marketing strategy”).
- Tell the players the meeting topic and give them access to flip-chart paper, markers,sticky notes, pipe cleaners, modeling clay, magazines, index cards, tape-any art supplies available to help them “make a world.”
- Give the players 20-30 minutes to brainstorm the attributes of the world and physically create it using art supplies.
- When the time is up, give the players five minutes to create a slogan or tag line to summarize their world.
- Have each group showcase their “Eden” and give the others insight into what it offers. Make note of any recurring themes or parallel features in these “fantasy lands.”
- The title of this game was inspired by Ed Emberley’s book, Make a World.
- All methods All authors IAF Library Library Make A World 17 7 The Make a World game appeals to visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners because of its layers of interaction.
- It’s useful (and downright fun) because it lets players imagine the future and take action to create a first version of it.
Run this exercise live
The facilitator console stays in this browser. Its QR handoff is a short-lived participant snapshot containing only public exercise instructions, phase, prompt, and timer state.
What participants need now
Materials:
This is a participant-safe snapshot, not a response form. It sends nothing back to the facilitator.
Prompts to use +
Tell the players the meeting topic and give them access to flip-chart paper, markers,sticky notes, pipe cleaners, modeling clay, magazines, index cards, tape-any art supplies available to help them “make a world.”
Give the players 20-30 minutes to brainstorm the attributes of the world and physically create it using art supplies.
When the time is up, give the players five minutes to create a slogan or tag line to summarize their world.
Have each group showcase their “Eden” and give the others insight into what it offers. Make note of any recurring themes or parallel features in these “fantasy lands.”
It’s useful (and downright fun) because it lets players imagine the future and take action to create a first version of it.
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: Make A World. Readiness: Publishable Draft. Core moves: Tell the players the meeting topic and give them access to flip-chart paper, markers,sticky notes, pipe cleaners, modeling clay, magazines, index cards, tape-any art supplies available to help them “make a world.”; Give the players 20-30 minutes to brainstorm the attributes of the world and physically create it using art supplies.; When the time is up, give the players five minutes to create a slogan or tag line to summarize their world.; Have each group showcase their “Eden” and give the others insight into what it offers. Make note of any recurring themes or parallel features in these “fantasy lands.”. 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. (2 sources observed, including Gamestorming, SessionLab.)
- 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.