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Summary
Our guest, Cheryl Platz, applies her extensive experience as a professional improv performer and educator to her design work in "unexpected" ways. Improv is more than a performance technique - it's a mindset that helps us energetically embrace constraints and uncertainty.
Key Insights
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Improv builds essential design skills such as listening, adaptability, and presence through playful exercises.
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The 'yes-and' principle enhances brainstorming and critiques by encouraging acceptance and building on ideas.
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Justification in improv mirrors design feedback management by contextualizing constraints creatively.
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Status awareness through subtle body language signals improves stakeholder interaction and leadership presence.
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Physical improvisation engages different communication skills than verbal improv, benefiting diverse teams.
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Cultural backgrounds influence how participants perceive and engage with improv exercises.
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Improv exercises like wordball activate creativity and ease participants into ideation sessions.
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Common improv pitfalls include overvaluing humor and ignoring environmental context in storytelling.
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Applied improv can support role-playing scenarios in fields like medical training and user research but requires trust and safety.
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Experienced improvisers integrate improv principles so deeply they appear naturally in professional settings.
Notable Quotes
"Yes-and is not about saying yes to everything, but about taking the nugget someone else gives you and building something awesome from it."
"Improv is like lifting weights for the brain—it starts with simple exercises, but over time it builds powerful muscles for connection and creativity."
"One of the golden rules is leave shame at the door because improv often means reconnecting with your kindergarten self."
"Status is about micro behaviors like eye contact and gestures that tell people where you sit in a social hierarchy."
"You don’t have to be a physical improviser to benefit; many foundational games focus on mental agility and presence."
"Improv is not just about comedy—honesty and storytelling are often more powerful."
"Funny is subjective, but craft and presence are things we can control."
"When doing improv in corporate settings, always make participation consensual and overexplain expectations for safety."
"Culture deeply affects how people approach improv; what is natural in one country may feel vulnerable in another."
"Improv skills help me appear high-energy and engaged in meetings, even when I’m effectively winging it."
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