Game · 60-90 minutes
DIY escape room challenge
Teams solve a chain of puzzles and clues in a locked-room story to “escape” before the timer runs out.
Read more All team quizzes & games
Problem solving
Back-to-back drawing
One person describes a drawing without showing it; their partner draws it from the instructions - a lesson in clear communication.
- Players
- 6-60, in pairs
- Duration
- 20-30 minutes
- Energy level
- Calm
- Works online
- Yes
How to play - step by step
- 1
Pair people up and sit them back to back.
- 2
The “describer” gets the picture; the “drawer” has blank paper and a pen.
- 3
The describer explains the picture using only words - no gestures and no naming the object.
- 4
The drawer draws what they hear and may not ask questions in round one.
- 5
After five minutes, compare the drawing with the original.
- 6
Swap roles and try again with a new picture - this time with questions allowed.
Benefits
- Practises communication, planning, and collaboration under time pressure.
- Shows who listens, who leads, and how the team shares information.
- Gives managers real examples to discuss in debriefs.
- Turns a fun task into a lesson that carries back to work.
What you need
- A simple picture per pair (shapes, a house, or an object).
- Blank paper and pens, and a timer.
- Chairs placed back to back.
Rules
- No peeking at each other’s paper.
- Describers cannot say the name of the thing being drawn.
- Round two allows questions to compare the difference.
Scoring and winning
- No competition needed; discuss how much closer the second round was.
Variations
- Use a simple chart or process diagram instead of an object.
- Describer uses only shapes and directions: “draw a circle in the top right”.
- Team version: one describer, four drawers.
Playing it online
- Use camera off for the drawer or a shared whiteboard with the describer’s screen hidden.
- Compare results by holding drawings to the camera.
Tips for the host
- End with a debrief: what made instructions clear or confusing?
- Connect the lesson to giving instructions at work.
Mistakes to avoid
- Pictures that are too complex.
- Letting people skip the reflection.
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