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Team Mascot in Ten
Invent a delightfully unofficial mascot that captures how your group wants to work together.
Time10–15 minutes
Group size3–50 people
FormatSmall groups, Table groups
MaterialsPaper or mini whiteboards, Markers
What this accomplishes
Teams choose an animal, object, or imaginary creature, give it two strengths and one lovable flaw, then draw or describe it. The result can be pure fun or a light way to name team values.
- Create a playful shared identity
- Practice quick consensus and additive creativity
Before you begin
Materials
- Paper or mini whiteboards
- Markers
Preparation
- Place drawing materials at tables
- Decide whether sharing will be a gallery or 30-second introductions
What to say
“Create your team's completely unofficial mascot. It needs a name, two strengths, and one lovable flaw. Drawing skill is irrelevant; a labeled blob is fully acceptable.”
How to run it
- 1
Form groups of three to six.
- 2
Give teams two minutes to generate mascot possibilities.
- 3
Ask them to combine or choose one idea and create a quick drawing or description.
- 4
Add a name, two strengths, one lovable flaw, and an optional motto.
- 5
Share through a gallery walk or 30-second table introductions.
- 6
Photograph the mascots only with group permission.
Prompts to use
What creature or object matches your group's energy?
What two strengths help this mascot contribute?
What harmless flaw makes it believable?
What motto would appear under its portrait?
Adapt it to the room
Small group
Create one mascot together and let each person add one trait.
Large group
Use table teams and a silent gallery to avoid a long series of presentations.
Virtual
Use a shared slide, collaborative drawing tool, or a written mascot profile.
Accessibility & inclusion
- Allow writing, collage, selecting an existing image, or describing instead of drawing.
- Make presenting optional.
- Avoid mascots or traits that stereotype cultures, identities, disabilities, or groups of people.
Debrief, if useful
Which trait felt most true of how you want to work?
What did your group combine rather than vote away?
Why it works—and what can go wrong
Why it works
An imaginary third object lets people negotiate identity and values at a safe distance, while the lovable flaw prevents the result from becoming corporate perfection language.
Watch out for
- Keep the mascot unofficial and low stakes.
- Do not pressure groups to display an artifact they dislike or find embarrassing.