Object Metaphor
Object Metaphor is a check-in activity in which each participant chooses a physical object from a varied collection and uses it as a metaphor for themselves, their role or a topic. The version described here follows the Drama-Based Pedagogy programme at the University of Texas at Austin; choosing an object as a metaphor is a widespread practice with no single originator. Describing the object first and making the comparison second gives people a concrete, low-risk way to say something personal.
Facilitation script
- 1
Lay out the objects before people arrive. Introduce the activity and give the prompt.
2 min - 2
Model one example: describe the object, then make the comparison.
1 min - 3
Participants look over the collection and choose an object.
2 min - 4
Sharing round, about 30 to 45 seconds each, without comments. Use small groups if there are more than twelve people.
10 min - 5
Debrief: recurring themes, surprises and what the group will carry into the session.
4 min
Tips
Choose objects with distinct features and functions, since plain or near-identical items give people little to work with.
Keep your own example short and modest; a polished, deeply personal model sets a bar that makes others anxious.
In groups above twelve, share in trios or fours and collect only a few examples in plenary, otherwise the round takes over the session.
Common pitfalls
Too few or too similar objects, so late choosers are left with items that do not fit and feel exposed
A vague prompt such as 'pick something that speaks to you', which produces rambling explanations and no usable themes
Letting people skip the description and go straight to a prepared statement about themselves, which loses the distance the object provides
Commenting on or interpreting someone's metaphor, which makes later speakers more guarded
Running the full round in plenary with a large group, which turns a fifteen-minute opener into most of an hour
Variations
Blind draw: participants pull an object from a bag without looking and have to find the connection, which is lighter in tone and more playful. Remote: ask everyone to fetch an object within reach of their desk and hold it up to the camera. Bring your own: invite participants in advance to bring an object that means something to them, which goes deeper and suits teams that already know each other. Topic version: the object stands for the project, the client or the organisation instead of the person.
Where it fits
When to use it
A new team or project group needs to learn something real about each other in the first twenty minutes
Standard introduction rounds have become routine and people recite job titles
You want to hear how individuals experience a project or their role without asking the question directly
A group includes people who find abstract self-description difficult and do better with something to hold and point at
A remote session needs a check-in that gets people to move and show something from their surroundings
When not to use it
You have less than ten minutes or more than thirty people in one round; use a one-word check-in
No objects can be brought and participants have nothing at hand; a photo check-in with image cards or a shared image grid does the same job
The aim is to generate product ideas from objects; that is Object Brainstorm, a different method
The group is in acute conflict and metaphors could be used to send coded criticism; address the conflict with a structured dialogue first
You want to explore a complex situation through metaphor in depth; plan a longer metaphor work session instead of a check-in
Related methods
Frequently asked questions
What is Object Metaphor?▾
Object Metaphor is a check-in activity in which each person selects an everyday object from a collection and explains how it represents them, their role or a given topic. The person first describes the object and then makes the comparison. It is used to help groups get to know each other and to surface views in an indirect, concrete way.
What kinds of objects work best?▾
Varied everyday items with clear features and functions work best, for example kitchen utensils, tools, toys, office supplies or natural objects. Avoid valuable, fragile or loaded items. Bring more objects than there are participants so the last person still has a real choice.
How long does Object Metaphor take?▾
Fifteen to twenty-five minutes for a group of up to about twelve. Allow roughly half a minute to a minute per person for sharing plus a short debrief. For bigger groups share in small groups to stay within that time.
Can Object Metaphor be done online?▾
Yes. Ask participants to pick up an object from their desk or room and show it on camera while they explain the connection. Give them a full minute to look around, and tell them that ordinary items are fine.
How is Object Metaphor different from a photo check-in?▾
Both use something concrete to prompt a personal statement. A photo check-in uses images, which tend to evoke moods and scenes. Object Metaphor uses physical items that people can handle, and their function and material invite comparisons with skills, roles and ways of working.
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Try it freeMethod descriptions on Workshop Weaver are original content written by our team, based on established facilitation practices. This method was inspired by work from Drama-Based Pedagogy, University of Texas at Austin (credited there to Meryl Friedman).