The Intentional Collaboration Game takes players on a journey from working alone to true co-creation — exploring the full spectrum from Isolation to Cooperation to genuine Collaboration. This one-of-a-kind, LEGO-based learning experience unfolds in three engaging rounds: Round 1 – Isolation: Each player works independently, building "something useful" using only their own set of single-colored LEGO bricks, hidden behind a paper divider. Round 2 – Cooperation: Players invite a partner to offer suggestions — and even share their own uniquely colored pieces — to enhance and improve each other's creations. This simulates both the pros of focused, undistracted work, and the cons of limited resources and ideas. Each still works on their own project, but now they share ideas and resources. Round 3 – Collaboration: Groups of three (or more) now move into true co-creation, sharing ideas and combining all of the LEGOs into a unified, shared vision. By the end, what began as three separate, single-hued builds evolves into a vibrant, multi-colored expression of collective creativity. Each team member can literally see what they contributed to the collaborative creation! WHAT MAKES IT POWERFUL? Throughout the exercise, participants experience a full range of reactions — focus, admiration, inspiration, confusion, disappointment, excitement, frustration, and more. Along the way, they'll discover firsthand the pros and cons of each engagement style: Isolation: Team members enjoy full autonomy, "flow," and freedom of expression — but quickly encounter the limits of working with only their own resources, perspective, and ideas. Cooperation: Team members experience resource sharing, synergy, and flexibility emerge as real benefits of working together— as well as the challenges of communication, conflicting ideas, and compromise. Collaboration: Unexpected innovation and shared ownership become possible — alongside the complexities of joint decision-making, personality differences, and group dynamics. KEY TAKE-AWAYS This experience gives groups a compelling, hands-on way to explore: Balancing quiet focus and “flow” with dynamics of input and feedback – when are each necessary Ownership of ideas – independent and/or shared Differences in style (who likes/dislikes working alone) Differentiating “Cooperation” from “Collaboration.” Unequal allocation of resources — and what that means for equity and fairness Negotiating for additional resources Competition vs. Collaboration – is sharing resources hard? Leadership / Communication dynamics (who speaks a lot/little) Dismantling work you’ve already done to accommodate others Group decision making Team identity: Me vs. the Team Time Management Evaluating Multiple Options and Visions Being intentional about independence vs. collaboration WHAT'S INCLUDED Everything you need for three participants: 1 Set of Facilitator Notes (available 5/20/2026) 3 Participant Workbooks 3 Bags of LEGO pieces (each a different single color — one per player; NOTE: color packs will be selected randomly from 7 different options –red/purple, yellow/green, blue, white, brown, black)) 4 LEGO minifigures (distributed to one player only) 4–6 LEGO wheel sets (distributed to one player only) 3 Paper Dividers (for privacy during Round 1) Developer, John Riordan, Explains the Experience Note: Players do not receive identical sets of bricks — and that's intentional. Differences in piece type, quantity, and shape naturally spark conversations about resource scarcity, inequity, and fairness.
