Solving Big Problems in an Escape Room: Design Thinking That Actually Works
In high-stakes, siloed environments like government agencies or large enterprises, communication isn’t just difficult — it’s the problem. I learned this firsthand while working with the Department of Defense, where highly intelligent teams struggled not with tools or timelines, but with translation.
So I took a risk: I turned a Design Thinking workshop into an escape room.
The Challenge: Data Without Dialogue
The DoD teams I supported had a simple but paralyzing problem — their military-aligned technologists and their civilian-aligned business partners couldn’t speak the same language. Everyone had good intentions, sharp minds, and serious stakes. But their efforts kept collapsing under misalignment.
Meetings turned into monologues. Assumptions calcified. Innovation stalled.
The Idea: Turn Collaboration into a Physical Experience
Rather than force another whiteboard session, I orchestrated a Design Thinking experience inside a live escape room.
Why? Because it naturally required:
Cross-functional communication
Real-time problem-solving
Goal-oriented behavior under pressure
Before they could “solve” the room, they had to solve each other.
The Result: Real Empathy, Real Alignment
The shift was instant. For the first time, these siloed teams had to listen. They began explaining instead of defending, asking instead of assuming. They built a shared vocabulary — not because I asked them to, but because they needed one to succeed.
What followed was more than collaboration. It was trust.
And with that foundation, we made fast progress on the real work: user journey mapping, service blueprinting, and co-creating systems that people actually understood.
“The shift was instant. For the first time, these siloed teams had to listen.”
Why This Worked (and Why It’s Repeatable)
Design Thinking works best when it’s embodied — not just taught.
This experience reminded me that facilitation is less about frameworks and more about unlocking shared purpose. Whether in the Pentagon or a startup, people collaborate better when they feel understood.
Want to break through blockers in your org? You might not need a new tool. You might need a new room.
Ready to Facilitate Breakthroughs?
If your team is stuck, siloed, or spinning, I can help. I design custom workshops that combine Design Thinking with human strategy — and sometimes a few locked doors.
Want to Think Even Bigger?
If this story got your gears turning, here are a few powerful reads that dive deeper into Design Thinking, team collaboration, and creative problem-solving. These resources inspired my approach—and they might spark your next breakthrough too.