The Marshmallow Challenge: A Design Exercise Promoting Creative Collaboration

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The Marshmallow Challenge is a design exercise that encourages creative collaboration and problem-solving among teams.

Kivonat

The Marshmallow Challenge is a design exercise originally created by Peter Skillman. It involves teams of participants building the tallest free-standing structure using limited materials, with a marshmallow placed on top.
The challenge promotes creative collaboration and problem-solving skills. Teams must work together to ideate, plan, and construct their structure within a limited timeframe. The activity highlights the importance of prototyping, testing, and iterating to achieve the best results.
The content clarifies that while the challenge was popularized by Tom Wujec, the original inventor was Peter Skillman. It encourages readers to watch Skillman's TED talk on the original version of the design challenge.

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Főbb Kivonatok

The Marshmallow Challenge: a lesson in creative collaboration

by Marcus Fleck... : uxdesign.cc 04-07-2024

https://uxdesign.cc/the-marshmallow-challenge-a-lesson-in-creative-collaboration-382f1fe2a38e

Mélyebb kérdések

How can the Marshmallow Challenge be adapted or scaled to different contexts and team sizes?

The Marshmallow Challenge can be adapted to various contexts and team sizes by adjusting the materials used, time constraints, and objectives. For example, in a corporate setting, teams could be tasked with building a structure using office supplies like paper clips and rubber bands instead of spaghetti and marshmallows. Additionally, the challenge could be scaled up for larger teams by increasing the size of the structure or introducing more complex rules. By customizing the challenge to fit different contexts and team sizes, participants can still experience the core principles of collaboration and creativity.

What are some potential biases or limitations of the Marshmallow Challenge that should be considered when using it?

One potential bias of the Marshmallow Challenge is that it may favor certain skill sets or personalities over others. For instance, individuals with a background in engineering or architecture may have an advantage in building the tallest structure. This could lead to a lack of diversity in problem-solving approaches within the team. Additionally, the time constraint of the challenge may put pressure on participants, leading to rushed decisions and a focus on speed over quality. It's essential to be mindful of these biases and limitations when using the Marshmallow Challenge to ensure a fair and inclusive experience for all participants.

How might the Marshmallow Challenge be combined with other design thinking or team-building exercises to enhance its impact?

The Marshmallow Challenge can be combined with other design thinking or team-building exercises to enhance its impact by incorporating elements of brainstorming, prototyping, and iteration. For example, after completing the initial challenge, teams could reflect on their process and brainstorm ways to improve their design. They could then create a new prototype based on their ideas and test it out to see if it performs better than their original structure. By integrating these additional steps, participants can deepen their understanding of the design process and develop their problem-solving skills further. This holistic approach can lead to more meaningful insights and lasting benefits for the team.