Icebreakers with a user experience design theme
This collection of icebreakers is adapted for use in the context of web design and usability workshops, training sessions, or focus groups.
What's the question?
The facilitator writes some facts on the board and participants try to find the question that matches each fact. Example:
- the browser back button - Next to hyperlinks, what is the most commonly used navigational aid? or What is one thing should you always avoid breaking when designing web pages?
- Internet Explorer on Windows - What is the most popular browser/platform combination used on the web?
- Tim Berners-Lee - Who invented the web? or Who is the Director of the W3C?
Truth seeker
The facilitator writes three statements on the board. One is not true. Participants are asked to choose the one that is not true, and explain their choice. Example:
- pages that contain only text are fully accessible to those using screenreaders or text-to-speech software
- pages that contain only text are fully accessible to those with hearing impairments
- pages that contain only text are fully accessible to those using a text browser like Lynx
Seating arrangement
The facilitator asks people to arrange their seats:
- in order of the years/months they've spent surfing the web, or
- in order of the years/months they've been employed in a web-related position, or
- in order of the year in which they first published a web page online
- in order of the year in which they made their first online purchase
- in order of the number of times they've made a purchase online
Individual lead-in questions
The f acilitator asks participants to answer a question designed as a lead-in to the topic material or to help raise issues that will need to be given priority. Examples:
- What is your opinion of user-centred design [or the relevant topic]?
- What one or two "burning questions" do you hope will be addressed in this session [course, workshop]?
- Describe one strategy/resource you have successfully employed recently (relevant to the topic of the workshop/training).
- Describe one recent problem you have had using [this, X-company's] web site.
A variation is to ask participants to "complete the following statement". One or more statements can be offered. Examples:
- I love buying online because...
- I hate buying online because...
- I enjoy using Company X's web site because...
- I dislike using Company X's web site because...
- I do most of my research online because...
- I like using [user names a site] because...
- The best web site I've ever used was.... because...
Group lead-in activities
The f acilitator leads a group activity as a lead-in to a topic. Example:
- Word tree: participants are asked to generate a list of words related to the topic. These can be written on post it notes and stuck on a board. The facilitator then leads the group in organising each of the words into themes or topics. The facilitator can also use this as an oppotunity to introduce key terms.
- Simple quiz: participants are given a simple multiple choice or true/false quiz to complete. The quiz is designed as a lead-in to the topic area. The facilitator can discretely scan answers while walking around the room during the test. This may assess the level of knowledge of some members of the group. The facilitator then leads the group through each of the answers. A variation on this would be to have the group break into smaller groups (2-3 people) to work on the quiz.