The “Build-a-Hat” Exercise: A Functional and Fashionable Way to Demonstrate Rapid Prototyping in Innovation Workshops
What Is the “Build-a-Hat” Exercise
This exercise is another hall-of-famer from our toolkit of innovation exercises. We first learned about it from the folks at IDEO and have since made it our own. The notion of prototyping a hat is a fun and approachable way to get participants energized for any type of ideation or design thinking work. The whimsy of hats is part of the appeal of this exercise, but the prototyping aspect has real-world ties to powerful concepts in product and service ideation and design.
How You Facilitate the Exercise
Materials & Prep: Tin foil is the flexible and moldable star of the show here. We also provide a mix of other ‘art supplies’ – colored construction paper, Scotch tape, Sharpies, pipe cleaners, latex balloons, popsicle sticks, scissors… Anything goes!
You’ll also want to have a list of product categories that serve as the focus for each hat. The product categories can be anything, but it’s generally best to keep them broad and readily understood – e.g. things like Sports Equipment, Furniture / Home Décor, Kitchen Tools, Foods, Lawn & Garden, Transportation, etc.
Assign each person/team a product category either ahead of time or during your session.
Task Briefing: The facilitator explains that the task is to quickly create a physical prototype of a unique hat that represents an innovative functional use or a conversation-worthy look for their specific product category. They can use any of their provided supplies to generate their creation.
Prototyping Phase: This exercise can be done individually or in teams of two. Give participants a specific amount of time to brainstorm their hat design and execute their vision. We generally keep this exercise to roughly 15 minutes. Remind the group that this is about RAPID prototyping!
Sharing, Discussion & Reflection: After the prototyping phase, each participant/team quickly presents their category and hat, its function, and its benefits to the group. Encourage a brief group discussion about what the participants learned from the exercise.
Why We Like the “Build-a-Hat” Exercise
Visual & Tangible: In addition to being a hoot, this exercise reinforces the notion that getting tangible with even crude prototypes is often a great way to surface important considerations and get to solutions faster.
Open & Inclusive: It doesn’t require any specific expertise or prior training. What are the odds that there is a former or current professional hat maker in your audience? The playing field is level.
Experimentation Mindset: The exercise prompts a shift in mindset, encouraging participants to view challenges with a fresh perspective. This mindset of experimentation is crucial for ideation sessions focused on generating innovative solutions.
Discussion & Reflection: The presentation and discussion phases of the exercise create an opportunity for participants to share insights gained from the activity, and connect those perspectives to the tasks at hand in the meeting.
Icebreaker & Energizer: Aside from using this exercise to teach the team about rapid prototyping, the lighthearted and highly visual nature of literally making hats is an unexpected and effective icebreaker, helping to create a relaxed and positive atmosphere. It adds an element of fun and playfulness to a session, energizing participants and setting a creative tone.
Conclusion
The “Build-a-Hat” exercise is obviously a valuable tool for any group looking to introduce prototyping concepts, but we love its versatility and frequently use it to kick off creativity workshops and ideation sessions. The tangible outcome of a room full of hats makes for some great photo opportunities in addition to setting the stage for a creative and open-minded exploration of ideas.
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