Team Building: Making Something Meaningful Together

Team Building Case Study: The Power of Making Something Meaningful Together 

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Making something meaningful together

Collaboration allows us to know more than we are capable of knowing by ourselves.

— Paul Solarz

I recently invited a local arts leader to visit our office to educate and inspire our team around the connection of arts and business in our community. We enjoyed the presentation, we ate pizza and brownies, and I think everyone learned a lot. As an experiment, I also brought a large blank canvas, paints, mark-making materials, and a lot of random ephemera.

My goal was to create a piece of abstract art together, and I think everyone was a little nervous. We’d hang it on the wall afterward, not just as decoration, but as a reminder that we created something unique together as a team. 

I was nervous. 

Most people in business don’t spend their afternoons and valuable company time flinging paint. But it turned out that it was an extremely fun, energizing, and surprisingly impactful team-building experience.

This post isn’t just about what we did. It’s about why I think it was beneficial and why other business leaders could consider something similar. I want to encourage you to think outside the usual box when it comes to team building. You don’t have to make a painting like we did. But creating something together—something physical, messy, and shared—can bring your team closer in ways that traditional exercises never touch.

It’s also about recognizing the importance of incorporating art and creativity into our lives. In a fast-paced, hyper-productive world, we often treat creativity as a luxury—something reserved for the weekends, or for people with elusive “artistic skills”. But the truth is, creative expression is a core human need. It helps us process emotions, connect with ourselves and others, and see the world differently. Bringing creativity into the workplace—even in small, simple ways—can unlock new perspectives and help us feel more fully human. And when we do it together, that experience becomes a shared story that shapes our culture.

It’s Not About the Art. It’s About the Process

Let me be clear: none of us are professional painters. We weren’t aiming for perfection. In fact, the joy came from the uncertainty—the improvisation, spontaneity, and experimentation that unfold when people step out of their routine and into something unfamiliar. There’s something uniquely energizing about watching your teammates pick up a brush for the first time, embrace the awkwardness, and just go for it with curiosity and courage.

The result? A wild, colorful, chaotic piece that somehow still feels cohesive. But more important than the final product was the act of making it.

We laughed. We got out of our heads. We saw each other in a new light. And we remembered what it feels like to build something together.

Creativity Builds Connection

When you make something as a team, it changes the dynamic. You’re not just co-workers anymore. You’re collaborators. Creators. Co-conspirators in something playful and a little bit weird.

That shift breaks down silos fast. People who don’t usually interact were swapping brushes and cheering each other on. Nobody was worried about titles or departments.

It was low-stakes, high-reward—a space where it was okay to experiment, build on what came before you, mess up, and try again without judgment. That sense of creative freedom and acceptance of mistakes is something we actively strive to cultivate in our culture. It breaks down barriers, invites new ideas, and encourages people to show up as their full selves and make an honest, valuable contribution–even if it’s just a small one.

Everyone Leaves a Mark

One of my favorite parts of this project is that every single person left their fingerprint on it (literally, in some cases).

Some people painted big swaths. Others added tiny details that poked through the chaos. Some marks were bold; others were quiet. But everyone contributed in their own unique way.

And now, when we walk by that piece on the wall, we remember: we did that. Together. There will be marks that bring back memories. There will be marks that have meaning.

That kind of shared ownership builds pride. It creates a sense of belonging. It reminds us that while we each bring something different to the table, what we make together is greater than the sum of its parts.

The Benefits Go Beyond the Event

Team-building doesn’t have to be a one-and-done affair. The best activities leave a trail—they echo.

I’m sure we’ll talk about our “arts day” in the future. We’ll remember what we learned from our speaker, of course. But our creation will take on a life of its own. We’ll reference it. We joke about certain parts. The painting isn’t just a decoration—it’s a symbol. A reminder of who we were as a team at that moment. We’ll remember that we were at our best: open, curious, collaborative, creative, unafraid to make our mark.

It will also help to spark other conversations. How else can we work together differently? What would it look like to bring this kind of openness into our actual projects?

The momentum doesn’t stop when the paint dries.

You Don’t Have to Be an Artist to Try This

If you’re a business leader, here’s the takeaway: team building through creativity doesn’t have to be complicated or intimidating.

You don’t need easels or studio space. You don’t need to be “good at art.” What you need is the willingness to try something different—something that asks your team to show up not just as employees, but as friends, as people. You’ll be surprised at what comes out of it.

If abstract painting isn’t your thing (don’t knock it until you try it), here are a few random ideas that you might try to bring your team together and create something as a team.

  1. Collaborative Mural or Wall Collage
    A painting is always an option, but why not use your walls? You could use paint. You could also use sticky notes, photos, sketches, symbols, or quotes to build a visual story or timeline that represents your company, a shared goal, or a recent success.
  2. Build a Custom Office Sculpture
    Use recycled materials, everyday office supplies, or even LEGO bricks to co-create a 3D structure that lives in your space as a conversation piece.
  3. Team Storybook or Zine
    Write and illustrate a short story or team origin tale together. Each person contributes a page, an idea, or a visual. Print and distribute it as an office keepsake. Of course, you can share this online with the world as well.
  4. Create a Soundtrack or Team Anthem
    Collaboratively build a playlist that represents your team’s personality—or go a step further and write fun lyrics to a known tune.
  5. Design a Board Game or Card Game
    Invent a game themed around your industry, company culture, or inside jokes. Play it at future meetings or events.
  6. Team Recipe Book
    Everyone contributes a favorite recipe that has some meaning (bonus points for stories or personal and company connections). Design and print a small cookbook for the office.
  7. Photo Challenge + Exhibit
    Set a creative prompt, have everyone snap a photo during the week, then curate a gallery wall of the team’s visual interpretations.
  8. Build a Vision Board or Company Manifesto Collage
    Use magazines, printouts, or digital tools to collectively map out what your team values, wants to achieve, or stands for.
  9. Create a Time Capsule
    Collect items, messages, or symbols from your current team and seal them to be opened at a future date, marking a shared moment in time.

Final Thoughts

Most team-building activities are structured, predictable, and let’s be honest—somewhat forgettable.

This one wasn’t.

It gave us a shared memory. A reminder that creativity belongs in the workplace. And a bold, messy, beautiful artifact that says: we’re a team. We’re a group of people who aren’t afraid to show up, try something new, and make something meaningful together.

And here’s the thing…this is what we want to do every day for our clients. This activity reminded us that great work doesn’t come from playing it safe or working in silos. It comes from collaboration, imagination, and a willingness to take risks together. The canvas is just one symbol of what we’re capable of creating when we lean into that mindset. 

If you’re looking for your next team-building idea, don’t default to ropes courses or icebreakers. Try creating something together. You might just uncover a new side of your team—and your culture.