The “Wouldn’t It Be Cool If…?” Co-Creation Sprint
A Culture Tool for Any Team
Photo: Clark Van Der Beken
Every team, no matter its size or stage, hits moments where clarity slips and momentum stalls. The default response is often to tighten plans and double down on roadmaps, but that can shut down imagination when it’s needed most. Sometimes the most powerful move isn’t to push harder, but to pause and ask a different kind of question.
That’s where the “Wouldn’t It Be Cool If…?” Co-Creation Sprint comes in. It’s a lightweight, low-stakes way to spark creativity, surface hidden insights, and remind teams that innovation begins with curiosity.
I’ve used it across contexts: launching new initiatives, refreshing long-running programs, and re-aligning teams mid-project. Wherever you apply it, the goal is the same: to create a pool of possibilities that can guide smarter, more intentional action.
Why This Exercise Works
The magic of the Co-Creation Sprint is in how it shifts the energy of a group:
- Inclusive by design: Gives everyone, regardless of role, an easy way to contribute.
- Breaks through judgment filters: Keeps the “but will it work?” instinct from shutting down good ideas too early.
- Creates a shared imagination space: An Imagination Board becomes a collective anchor for future choices.
Why It Matters for Team Culture
This isn’t just a brainstorm, it’s a ritual of openness that strengthens how a team works together.
- Surfaces insights from the edges: Breakthroughs often come from unexpected voices.
- Builds alignment through curiosity: Helps teams see where assumptions are shared (or not) before fractures appear.
- Models inclusivity and play: Signals that all perspectives are welcome, and that creativity doesn’t have to be formal to be valuable.
How to Run a '“Wouldn’t it be cool if…” Co-Creation Sprint
A sprint doesn’t have to be long, but it does imply focus, intention, and follow-through. You can run this one asynchronously before a meeting or live in a session. Digital tools like Miro make it easy to capture ideas in one place.
1. Set the Stage
- Frame the sprint as a pause for possibility, not a pressure test.
- Share the core prompt: “Wouldn’t it be cool if…?”
- Invite broad participation, with optional anonymity for those who want it.
2. Generate Possibilities
- Async: Let ideas flow onto a shared board over a few days.
- Live: Facilitate a quick cycle of silent brainstorming (10–15 mins) followed by clustering (20–30 mins).
3. Make Sense Together
- Read ideas aloud.
- Group them into themes.
- Notice patterns, tensions, and sparks of energy.
4. Carry It Forward
This is where sprint energy becomes cultural fuel. The Imagination Board can:
- Kick-start strategy cycles
- Re-inspire teams midstream
- Shape long-term planning
- Support participatory design and research
At its core, this sprint is less about what you produce in one session and more about what it models: a team culture where creativity, inclusivity, and possibility are always on the table.
Every strategy starts as an act of imagination. This sprint just gives that imagination a place to land. The next time your team feels stuck, or even if you just want to shake things up, try it.
Ask the question. See what happens.
Editor’s Note: This piece was drafted in May, 2025 and added here as part of my archives.