Creativity isn’t just a nice-to-have in the workplace – It’s a key aspect for better communication, stronger collaboration, and innovative thinking. At Art is Home, we use playful, hands-on exercises to unlock these qualities in our Creativity with Purpose workshops.
Here are three simple warm-ups you can try in your next meeting.
P.S. No art experience required!
1. The 30-Circles Challenge
Time: 10 minutes
What you’ll need: A sheet of paper with 30 blank circles and pens/markers for each participant.
How it works:
- Give everyone the sheet with 30 circles.
- In 3 minutes, fill in as many circles as possible, turning them into unique drawings (e.g., a sun, a football, a smiley face).
- Compare results and discuss how people approached the task differently.
Why it works:
This warm-up gets people thinking beyond the obvious, helps break habitual patterns, and reminds everyone there’s no single “right” answer.
2. One-Word Story
Time: 5 minutes
What you’ll need: Just your voices and imagination.
How it works:
- Gather your team in a circle.
- One person starts a story with a single word.
- Going around the circle, each person adds one word at a time to build the story.
- Keep going until the story reaches a natural end (or spirals into hilarious chaos).
Why it works:
This quick game boosts listening skills, adaptability, and teamwork: everyone has to build on what came before, just like in real projects. Again, there is no wrong answer, this exercise encourages the “yes, and…” mentality
3. Object Remix
Time: 10 minutes
What you’ll need: Any everyday office objects (stapler, coffee mug, sticky notes).
How it works:
- Place 5–6 random objects on a table.
- Split into small groups and challenge each group to come up with three new uses for each object.
- Share ideas and see which are the most unexpected.
Why it works:
This warm-up stretches problem-solving muscles and sparks lateral thinking, two core ingredients for innovation.
Take your creativity further
These activities are a great start, but they’re just the tip of the iceberg. In our Creativity with Purpose workshops, we go deeper, guiding teams through immersive challenges that strengthen trust, spark bold ideas, and connect creativity to real-world impact.
📅 Choose between half-day or full-day sessions
📍 Hosted at your office, our Rotterdam studio, or partner locations across the Netherlands
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