Kierkegaard has famously asserted: “The more a person limits himself, the more resourceful he becomes.” Inspired by the power of constraints, introducing Limitation Game—a simple playtivist tool whose aim is to facilitate idea generation for creative campaigns and actions, while relying on multidisciplinary approaches. At Fine Acts we’ve already tested it numerous times, with civic actors from all around the world, to great enthusiasm and success. Feel free to use it for idea generation within your own organization, or during workshops that you lead with others.


LIMITATION GAME
 

1. Brief Instructions to organizers

In separate bowls/containers, place folded pieces of paper, each containing a different limitation.

For example, for a task around imagining a creative intervention or an art action, the limitations could be:

• Bowl 1, Creative approach/art medium. Limitations: performance art/dance; public art; light or sound; fashion; food; photography, etc. 

• Bowl 2, Location. Limitations: park, river, street, public transport, public building; residential building, stadium, etc.

• (Optional) Bowl 3, Budget. Limitations: е.g. 1000 USD, 5000 USD, 20 000 USD

Have participants draw one limitation per bowl, and follow the instructions below.


2. Brief Instructions to Participants

Objective: Your goal is to conceptualize a creative intervention or an art action on the issue you’ve chosen to work on, based on a set of randomized constraints. 

Preparation:

• Choose your focus—a human rights, soicial or environmental issue you want to work on.

• You will draw three sets of limitations at random: Location, Creative Approach, and (optional) Budget.

• The combination you draw will form the basis of your creative challenge.

Instructions:

• Idea Generation Phase: You have ten minutes to sketch or jot down between three and ten distinct ideas. Each idea should creatively incorporate the combination of location and approach you've picked randomly.
  
  Examples: a creative intervention on domestic violence, medium: light or sound; location: stadium. Or, an art action on climate change, medium: fashion; location: river.  
  
  Think outside the box and challenge conventional boundaries. Don't overthink it; the goal is speed and spontaneity. Remember, there are no wrong ideas in this exercise, the goal is to get your creative muscles working. 

• Development Phase: After the initial brainstorming, select the 3 ideas that resonate most with you or seem most feasible. Spend an additional 3 minutes fleshing out these ideas. 

• Presentation: Briefly present your three chosen ideas to the group. Explain your thought process.

• Feedback Round: After presentations, there will be a feedback session. Listen to your peers with open mind, ask questions, and offer constructive insights. 

• Final Round: After the feedback round, spend some additional time to reflect and refine your best idea. 

Depending on time, repeat the process by drawing a new set of limitations, at least once. 

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This concept is published under an open license—meaning that you are free to use and adapt it non-commercially, while always crediting the author (Fine Acts).