Unbox

Facilitation, Creative Toolbox design

Unbox was a facilitation studio using creative tools to help people think differently, navigate change and get more out of working together. The idea was simple: get people out of familiar patterns and create space for new ways of thinking, sharing and solving problems.

The Unbox team with the Propellerhead Software team after a workshop
Black and white photo of two people walking down a corridor towards an office entrance

Back in November 2017, three students at Hyper Island, including me, began experimenting with facilitation and developing methods around creativity, trust, feedback and co-creation.

This picture marks our first client workshop, walking into their office, ready to see how our ideas worked outside the classroom.

Workshop participants sketching on large sheets of paper around a table

Inspired by the four sides of a box, we built Unbox around four principles:
Think Freely. Build Trust. Give Feedback. Co-create. These became the foundation for the workshops and tools that followed.

Workshop at Amrop, Stockholm.

Group photo of the Amrop global team after the ideation workshop Amrop team members working on ideas at tables

“I have often said the answer is always in the room. Today, we have all seen and experienced it.”

— CEO, Amrop

Just before formalising Unbox, we designed and led an ideation workshop for Amrop’s global team. Using mash up innovation and speed ideation, they generated nine solid ideas - one was already being acted on by lunchtime.

Workshop at Propellerheads, Stockholm.

A blindfolded participant drawing on a whiteboard while the team watches Propellerhead team members working around a table

"Great tempo, very inspiring and great enthusiasm. You three work so well together and blend in so well with the rest of us. Thank you for a very inspiring day".

- Hanna Astrand, Product manager

Our first official Unbox client was a team of five from Propellerhead Software in Stockholm. A day spent exploring change, sharing perspectives and learning from each other. Also the first workshop under the Unbox name.

Workshop at Record Union, Stockholm.

Record Union team sitting in a circle during a workshop Saaniya presenting to the Record Union team in front of a screen Participants placing sticky notes on a glass wall Facilitators leading a session with the whole Record Union organisation Black and white photo of Saaniya speaking at a Record Union workshop Participants lying on the floor drawing on large sheets of paper

"I had the honour to participate in a workshop Saaniya held together with a couple of other students from Hyper. Both me and my team were truly inspired and learned so much during this day.".

- Mira Ray, Head of Culture

Our next workshop was with a small team at Record Union, a digital music distribution platform in Stockholm. Three months later, we were invited back to work with the entire organisation - taking Unbox from one team to the whole company.