• All Methods
    • Strategize
      • 5D Framework
      • Break Down 4
      • Business Model Canvas
      • Competitive Analysis
      • Could, Should, Must
      • Dot Coding
      • Eisenhower Matrix
      • Future Trends
      • Golden Circle
      • HEART Framework
      • How Might We
      • Innovation Board
      • Ishikawa Diagram
      • Knowns and Unknowns Framework
      • KPI Tracking
      • Minimum Viable Product
      • One-Minute-Pitch
      • Stakeholder Map
      • SWOT Analysis
      • User Stories
      • Value Proposition
    • Observe
      • 5 Whys
      • 6 Thinking Hats
      • AEIOU Framework
      • Challenge Assumptions
      • Content Audit
      • Contextual Inquiry Plan
      • Emotional Journey Map
      • Empathy Map
      • Field Study
      • Focus Groups
      • Jobs-to-be-done
      • Journey Mapping
      • Mental Models
      • Mobile Diaries
      • Mystery Shopping
      • Netnography
      • Observation
      • Personas
      • Poems
      • Product Love Letters
      • Search-Log Analysis
      • Social Media Monitoring
      • Surveys
      • User Interviews
    • Ideate
      • 6-3-5 Brainwriting
      • Bodystorming
      • Brainstorming
      • Card Sorting
      • Collage
      • Crazy Eights
      • Dark Horse Prototyping
      • Mind Mapping
      • Moodboards
      • SCAMPER
      • Service Blueprints
      • Storyboards
      • Walt Disney Method
      • Worst Possible Ideas
      • Wow-How-Now Matrix
    • Validate
      • A/B Testing
      • Click Dummy
      • Concept Testing Plan
      • Eye Tracking
      • High-Fidelity Prototyping
      • Hypothesis Testing
      • Lessons Learned
      • Low-Fidelity Prototyping
      • Pluralistic Walkthrough
      • Poster Session
      • Remote Usability Test
      • User Testing
      • Wizard of Oz
      • World Café
    • Warm-up
      • 5 Whys
      • Brainstorming
      • Break Down 4
      • Crazy Eights
      • Destroy and Defend
      • Emoji Challenge
      • Hidden Similarities
      • Impromotion
      • Mind Mapping
      • Product Pitch
      • The Aliens Have Landed
      • Touch Blue
      • Two Truths and a Lie
      • Viewpoint Spectrogram
      • What's on your Desk?
  • Workshop Bundles
  • About us
  • Meet the Creators
  • Get Support
  1. UX Strategy Kit
  2. Methods
  3. What's on your Desk?
beginnerwarm-up
What's on your Desk?Get to know your team and think about your project in a fun and creative way.
10 – 15 min2+ Participantsactivitiescreativeteam
Summary

In this simple but entertaining warm-up game, the participants choose one item from their desks or their surroundings and present them to the rest of the team. You can talk about their characteristics and why they are special to you but also try to find parallels to your current project. For example a potted plant on your desk needs to be taken care of just like your work, but it can also grow over your head. 

Step-by-step
  1. Choose one of the items on your desk or in the room and search for parallels to your current project. Try to think in a more abstract way if you struggle to find obvious or simple similarities. 

  2. Present your objects to the rest of the team. You'll wonder how many funny and unexpected ideas your team can come up with.

What you need
  • No tools needed
Do you have a question?
These methods might seem simple, but applying them in a real project is another story. We’re there to help. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to get in touch with us at the User Experience Strategy & Design team.
Ask Away!
Explore similar methods
Low-Fidelity Prototypingvalidate
1+ Participants
30 – 70 min

Develop innovations, by going new and previously unexplored ways.

Social Media Monitoringobserve
1+ Participants
weeks – months

Compute the value of a brand or company.

Eisenhower Matrixstrategize
1+ Participants
25 – 45 min

Sort tasks by importance.

Surveysobserve
50+ Participants
5 – 30 d

Method for collecting quantitive data on a certain topic.

Stakeholder Mapstrategize
1+ Participants
4 – 8 h

Understand who can influence the product or could be affected by it.

© Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, 2025.
Follow us
  • Dribbble
  • Instagram
  • Medium
  • Behance
Categories
  • Strategize
  • Observe
  • Ideate
  • Validate
  • Warm-up
Learn more
  • About Us
  • User Experience Strategy & Design
  • Liquid Design System
Legal
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Imprint
Follow us
  • Dribbble
  • Instagram
  • Medium
  • Behance