The Iceberg Model
This approach invites teams to look beyond the immediate benefits of a design, considering individual, social, technological, environmental, economic, and political implications to promote conscious and sustainable design.
How to run it
- Explain the purpose of the model: to analyze both the visible elements and underlying implications of a product, service, or idea.
- Introduce the iceberg metaphor, emphasizing how what is visible depends on what’s below the surface.
- Give participants a canvas with two main sections: “above the water” and “below the water.”
- Ask participants to fill the “above the water” section with visible aspects of the product or service using sticky notes of one color (e.g., yellow).
- Guide participants to “flip” each visible element to explore possible hidden implications.
Run this exercise live
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What participants need now
Materials:
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Prompts to use +
Explain the purpose of the model: to analyze both the visible elements and underlying implications of a product, service, or idea.
Give participants a canvas with two main sections: “above the water” and “below the water.”
Ask participants to fill the “above the water” section with visible aspects of the product or service using sticky notes of one color (e.g., yellow).
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: The Iceberg Model. Readiness: Publishable Draft. Core moves: Explain the purpose of the model: to analyze both the visible elements and underlying implications of a product, service, or idea.; Give participants a canvas with two main sections: “above the water” and “below the water.”; Ask participants to fill the “above the water” section with visible aspects of the product or service using sticky notes of one color (e.g., yellow).. 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 Participatory Methods; aggregators are listed as additional observations, not origin proof. (2 sources observed, including Participatory Methods, 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.