Making Masks

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Represent a participant perspective, role identity, or story character visually to support structured introductions or narrative work.

Use it when: Use during team kickoffs, role-definition sessions, or character development modules when a visual, indirect medium helps people introduce perspectives.

Skip it when: Skip when the group requires rapid, factual introductions, when drawing tools introduce high technical friction, or when participants need direct verbal exchange without crafting.

Group arrangement: Individual work followed by pairs or trios, ending with brief whole-room reflection

Timing: UWT suggested 15 minutes to allow 5 minutes for individual drafting and 5 minutes for small-group sharing based on Knowmium notes.

Materials and tools

• One printed mask outline per person (or blank digital whiteboard frame per person)
• Markers or pens for in-person drawing (or digital shape and drawing tools online)
• Countdown timer

Before participants arrive

1. Print mask outlines on standard paper or set up blank mask outlines on an online whiteboard.
2. Distribute pens and markers or confirm digital whiteboard access permissions for all participants.

Say this to open

Take a blank mask template. Over the next five minutes, customize this mask using two or three symbols, colors, or words that represent your working style or perspective. You do not need artistic skill. Simple stick figures, shapes, and keywords work well. You decide how much or how little to reveal.

How to run it

1. Introduce task and prompt 2 minutes

   Display the mask template and read the prompt aloud. Clarify that visual finish does not matter. State that participants will choose two or three symbols, colors, or words. Start the 5-minute drafting timer.

2. Decorate masks individually 5 minutes

   Participants work independently and silently to add two or three symbols, colors, or words to their mask outline. Give a 1-minute warning before time ends.

3. Share in pairs or trios 5 minutes

   Divide participants into pairs or trios for a single round of sharing. Each person takes up to 90 seconds to show their mask and explain their chosen elements. Call time at 90-second intervals (at 1:30 and 3:00) so groups switch speakers. Trios use the final 90 seconds for the third speaker; pairs use remaining time for open mutual questions.

4. Whole-room debrief 3 minutes

   Reconvene the full room. Ask two or three volunteers to share a common pattern or contrasting idea they noticed across their partner conversations. Conclude on time.

Debrief questions

• What was easy or difficult about using visual symbols instead of speech to describe your style?
• What common theme or surprising difference did you notice across the masks in your group?

Finished output: A decorated mask per participant containing two or three self-selected symbols, colors, or words reflecting identity or perspective.

Remote

Create individual frames on a digital whiteboard (such as Miro or Mural) with a blank mask outline in each frame. Participants paste icons, draw shapes, or add text boxes. For step 3, send participants into breakout rooms of 2 or 3 for 5 minutes, broadcasting reminders at 90-second marks to switch speakers.

Hybrid

In-person participants draw on paper while remote participants use the online whiteboard. Group in-person participants with in-person partners and remote participants with remote partners to avoid room audio feedback. If an odd number exists in either group, form a trio within that same cohort rather than bridging across modes. Remote participants view each other on video or board frames; in-person participants hold up paper masks.

Access and participation choices

• Participants may use written words, lists, or standard geometric shapes instead of drawing.
• Participants may focus their mask entirely on an abstract work skill or project role instead of personal disclosure.
• Participants may show their mask silently or pass on speaking during the small-group round.

If the session gets stuck

A participant hesitates because they feel they lack drawing ability.

Remind them that words, simple lines, and basic geometric shapes fulfill the prompt completely.

One participant dominates the small-group sharing time.

Broadcast or call out time warnings every 90 seconds and instruct groups explicitly to pass the floor to the next speaker.

Terms used here

• Mask outline: A simple oval or face line drawing used as an empty canvas for participant notes and sketches.