Team-Building Challenges
Creative Challenges That Get Your Team Working Together
A fun, interactive team-building experience — without all the work of planning it.
Looking for something more interactive than a traditional paint night?
MixMatched Creations’ Team-Building Challenges combine creativity with communication, problem-solving, leadership, trust, collaboration, and a little friendly competition.
And the best part? We make it easy for you.
Tell us about your group, your event, and what you’re hoping to accomplish, and we’ll help you choose an experience that works best for your team. MixMatched Creations handles the creative planning, project materials, setup, instruction, and cleanup associated with your activity, so your team can show up, participate, and enjoy the experience.
Our challenges are designed for men and women of all artistic ability levels, and absolutely no art experience is necessary. Some challenges are completed with partners, while others are designed for small teams or larger groups. Many can also be customized around your company, event theme, team-building goals, group size, or preferred level of competition.
Whether you're planning a corporate retreat, leadership event, university or college event, student organization activity, holiday party, employee appreciation celebration, department outing, conference activity, or company get-together, we’ll help you create an experience that fits your group without making the planning process complicated.
Ready to Start Planning?
Tell us a little about your event. Complete our Event Inquiry Form, and we’ll help you determine which challenge, format, and options are the best fit for your group.
Not looking for competition or structured team challenges?
For a more laid-back experience where employees can relax, create, and socialize, explore our Creative Team Experiences.
EXPLORE CREATIVE TEAM EXPERIENCES →
Blind Artist Challenge
Communication • Listening • Interpretation • Teamwork
How It Works
Participants work in pairs and sit back-to-back so they cannot see what their partner is doing.
One person receives a reference image that only they can see.
Their job is to describe the image to their partner—but they cannot simply tell them exactly what the picture is.
Instead of saying:
“Paint a Christmas tree.”
They may need to give instructions such as:
“Paint a large green triangle in the center.”
“Add a small brown rectangle underneath.”
“Place several small circles throughout the green area.”
The second participant must draw or paint the image using only their partner's instructions.
When time is up, the finished artwork is revealed and compared to the original.
Partners can then switch roles for another round.
Why It's Great for Team Building
This challenge shows just how differently people can give and interpret instructions.
Participants have to communicate clearly, listen carefully, ask useful questions, and avoid making assumptions.
The final reveal is often one of the funniest parts of the experience because even great instructions can produce completely unexpected artwork.
Best For
Communication training, leadership programs, holiday parties, employee appreciation events, department outings, university and college events, student organizations, campus groups, team bonding, and groups that enjoy a fun, lighthearted challenge.
No-Talking Art Challenge
Nonverbal Communication • Collaboration • Adaptability • Problem-Solving
How It Works
Participants are divided into teams and given art materials, project pieces, and a goal.
Then comes the rule:
Nobody is allowed to speak for the first 10 minutes.
The team must figure out how to organize themselves, divide responsibilities, select materials, and begin creating using only nonverbal communication.
They may rely on:
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Gestures
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Facial expressions
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Pointing
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Demonstrating
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Body language
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Other creative ways of communicating
After the silent portion ends, the team can begin talking and complete the project normally.
Why It's Great for Team Building
Participants often rely heavily on verbal communication at work.
Removing speech forces everyone to become more aware of how they communicate and how they read other people.
It encourages patience, adaptability, observation, leadership, and creative problem-solving.
It also tends to get pretty funny when everyone realizes how difficult simple decisions can become without talking.
Best For
Corporate retreats, team development, communication workshops, employee appreciation events, holiday parties, university and college events, student organizations, campus groups, and groups looking for a creative experience that’s a little outside the ordinary.
One-Handed Partners Challenge Cooperation
Communication • Coordination • Patience
How It Works
Two participants work together to complete one project.
The catch?
Each person may only use one hand.
Together, the two partners essentially have to function as one person.
One participant may need to hold a project while the other paints.
One may hold a stencil while the other applies the color.
They may need to coordinate attaching decorations, opening supplies, positioning materials, tying ribbon, or completing other seemingly simple tasks.
Employees quickly discover that almost everything becomes more complicated when they can't simply do it themselves.
Why It's Great for Team Building
This challenge makes it almost impossible for one person to take over the project. Partners have to communicate, coordinate their movements, compromise, slow down, and genuinely work together.
It encourages cooperation while keeping the atmosphere light and funny.
Best For
Holiday parties, employee appreciation events, icebreakers, company outings, department events, university and college events, student organizations, campus groups, and teams looking for something interactive, creative, and fun without being overly serious.
Art Escape Challenge
Problem-Solving • Strategy • Communication • Teamwork
How It Works
Think escape room meets art challenge.
Teams must complete a series of mini creative challenges in order to earn the materials, clues, colors, tools, or pieces they need to complete one final project.
Teams might have to earn:
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Paint colors
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Paintbrushes
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Stencils
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Puzzle pieces
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Decorative materials
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Sections of a reference image
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Hidden instructions
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Codes
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Clues
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Project components
Each completed challenge unlocks the next step.
Once the team has successfully collected everything they need, they can complete the final artwork.
Example
A team may begin with only a wooden project and an envelope.
Completing the first puzzle reveals which paint colors they can use.
The next challenge earns them a stencil.
Another clue may reveal where a particular design element belongs.
At the end, everything they have earned comes together to complete the final project.
Why It's Great for Team Building
Different employees naturally contribute different strengths.
One person may notice patterns.
Another may organize the team.
Someone else may solve the puzzle.
Another may be the strongest artist.
The experience encourages teamwork, communication, creativity, strategy, delegation, time management, and problem-solving.
Best For
Corporate retreats, holiday parties, company competitions, employee appreciation events, conferences, university and college events, student organizations, campus activities, larger group events, and teams that enjoy puzzles, challenges, or escape-room-style experiences.
Collaborative Stained-Glass Challenge
Collaboration • Accuracy • Communication • Shared Goal
How It Works
Before the event, the company selects one finished design.
The design is divided into separate sections based on the number of participating employees.
Each participant receives:
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One picture frame or glass panel
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One section of the overall design
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Stained-glass-style paints
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The materials needed to complete their portion
Each participant creates their own section while keeping in mind that their piece must eventually connect with everyone else's.
When every section is finished, all of the frames are assembled together to reveal one large finished image.
Possible Designs
The final artwork could feature:
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A company logo
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Company initials
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A city skyline
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A landscape
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A tree
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A seasonal design
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A company building
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An inspirational image
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An industry-related design
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Custom artwork created for the event
Why It's Great for Team Building
Every participant is responsible for one individual piece, but the finished artwork only works when everyone contributes.
It creates a visual representation of how individual roles come together to create something larger.
The final reveal also makes a great group moment.
Take It Back
Once completed, the individual framed sections can be displayed together in an office, lobby, conference room, hallway, employee area, campus building, student center, department space, or other shared gathering area.
Best For
Company anniversaries, corporate milestones, employee appreciation, holiday parties, retreats, university and college events, campus celebrations, student organizations, department events, company-wide events, and organizations looking for meaningful artwork they can display long after the event.
Mystery Mural
Collaboration • Trust • Individual Contribution • Big Reveal
How It Works
One large image is divided into multiple canvas sections.
Each participant or small team receives one section of the design.
They know what they need to paint on their own canvas—but they do not get to see the complete finished image.
Participants focus on completing their section as accurately as possible.
At the end of the event, all of the canvases are assembled together like a giant puzzle.
Only then does everyone see what they created.
Example
Individually, participants may be painting what looks like random colors, shapes, lines, or objects.
Once 20, 30, 50, or more canvases are placed together, the pieces may reveal a company logo, landscape, holiday image, inspirational design, or another custom image.
Why It's Great for Team Building
The Mystery Mural reinforces the idea that every person's contribution matters.
No individual employee can create the final result alone.
Everyone has to trust the process and complete their own responsibility knowing that it will eventually become part of something bigger.
The final reveal makes an excellent photo opportunity and memorable ending to the event.
Best For
Large groups, company anniversaries, employee appreciation, corporate retreats, holiday parties, company milestones, university and college events, campus celebrations, student organizations, department events, and groups looking to create a finished piece they can proudly display afterward.
Follow the Leaders
Leadership • Delegation • Communication • Management Skills
How It Works
Participants are divided into teams of approximately 5–8 people.
Each team receives one large collaborative art project.
Two Participants are selected to become the Leaders.
Only the Leaders are allowed to see the finished reference image.
But there's another rule:
The Leaders are not allowed to touch any art supplies.
They cannot touch the paint.
They cannot pick up a brush.
They cannot adjust the artwork.
They cannot fix anyone else's work.
Their only tools are communication and leadership.
The Leaders must explain the vision, delegate responsibilities, answer questions, organize the team, and guide everyone toward recreating the hidden reference image.
The rest of the group must rely on their instructions.
At the end, the team's artwork is compared with the original.
Why It's Great for Team Building
Knowing what needs to happen and successfully communicating that vision to other people are two very different skills.
This challenge allows leaders to practice:
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Delegation
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Clear communication
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Organization
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Decision-making
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Giving constructive direction
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Managing multiple people
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Adapting when something goes wrong
Team members also practice listening, asking questions, interpreting instructions, and working within different roles.
Afterward, teams can even discuss what worked, what became confusing, and how the leadership approach affected the finished result.
Best For
Management retreats, supervisor training, leadership development, corporate retreats, university and college leadership programs, faculty and staff development, student leadership groups, department leaders, emerging leaders, and management-focused events.
Conjoining Canvas Challenge
Coordination • Planning • Communication • Shared Responsibility
How It Works
Participants work in teams of two or three. Each team receives one complete painting design divided across two or three blank canvases, depending on the size and needs of the group.
Every participant is responsible for creating one section. Team members can see the complete design and receive individual references showing what belongs on their canvases.
To make the finished painting connect, they must coordinate:
- Colors and backgrounds
- Measurements and placement
- Brush sizes and techniques
- Shapes, lines, and patterns
- Details that continue between canvases
There is one important rule:
Participants cannot draw or paint on another participant’s canvas.
They may discuss the project, compare measurements, and temporarily place their canvases together, but everyone must complete their own section.
If one participant’s tree branch ends higher than the neighboring branch begins—or the background colors do not match—the difference will be visible during the final reveal.
The Final Reveal
Once the paintings are complete, each team places its two or three canvases side by side to reveal one continuous image.
The final result shows how individual decisions can affect an entire group project. Perfect connections are exciting, while unexpected differences often make the reveal even more memorable.
Why It’s Great for Team Building
Every participant has an individual responsibility, but no section succeeds entirely on its own.
Participants must communicate before making decisions, listen to their teammates, check their progress, make adjustments, and trust others to complete their responsibilities.
The experience strengthens:
- Planning
- Accountability
- Communication
- Coordination
- Collaboration
- Attention to detail
- Shared decision-making
Take It Back to the Office
The completed canvases can be displayed together in an office, lobby, conference room, hallway, department, or employee area.
The artwork becomes a lasting reminder of how separate roles and responsibilities come together to accomplish one shared goal.
Best For
Small departments, partner teams, leadership groups, employee appreciation events, corporate retreats, holiday parties, company milestones, university and college groups, faculty and staff teams, student organizations, campus departments, and organizations looking for an interactive project they can proudly display afterward.
Director & Artist Challenge
Trust • Verbal Communication • Listening • Precision
How It Works
Participants work in pairs.
One participant becomes the Director.
The other becomes the Artist.
The Artist is blindfolded.
The Director can see the reference artwork—but cannot touch the canvas, paintbrush, paint, or any other supplies.
The Director must verbally guide the Artist through the painting.
Instructions might sound like:
“Move your brush about two inches to the left.”
“A little more.”
“STOP!”
“Move the brush up.”
“Use the color directly to your right.”
“Paint a circle about the size of a quarter.”
Halfway through the challenge, employees switch roles.
Why It's Different From Blind Artist
In the Blind Artist Challenge, one employee describes an image while their partner creates it independently.
In Director & Artist, the Artist is actually blindfolded and has to rely on the Director for nearly every movement.
That makes communication much more specific—and usually much more chaotic.
Why It's Great for Team Building
The Director quickly learns that vague instructions don't work.
The Artist has to listen carefully, trust their teammate, and ask questions when something isn't clear.
It's a fun way to demonstrate how communication, trust, and precision affect an outcome.
Best For
Communication workshops, holiday parties, employee appreciation events, corporate retreats, icebreakers, department outings, university and college events, student organizations, campus groups, faculty and staff activities, and teams that enjoy fun, high-energy challenges.
The Art Detective
Memory • Observation • Communication • Group Decision-Making
How It Works
Teams are shown a completed piece of artwork for approximately 60 seconds.
They are encouraged to study every possible detail.
Then the artwork is removed.
Each team receives the materials necessary to recreate the original piece.
But there's a twist.
They also receive several decoy materials that were never used in the original artwork.
Now the team has to rely on what everyone remembers.
Was the flower purple or blue?
Were there three trees or four?
Was glitter used?
Did the ribbon go underneath or over the sign?
Was the star gold or silver?
Did anyone notice that tiny detail in the corner?
The team must discuss what they remember and agree on how to recreate the original.
When time is up, the original artwork is revealed again.
Scoring
Teams can earn points based on categories such as:
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Correct colors
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Correct number of objects
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Correct placement
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Correct materials
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Correct decorative details
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Overall similarity
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Teamwork
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Creativity
The team with the highest score can be declared the winner.
Why It's Great for Team Building
No single employee is likely to remember every detail.
One person may remember the colors.
Someone else noticed the background.
Another person remembers how many objects were included.
The team succeeds by combining everyone's observations.
It encourages active listening, observation, communication, memory, group decision-making, and respect for different perspectives.
Best For
Holiday parties, corporate competitions, conferences, employee appreciation events, department outings, retreats, university and college events, student organizations, campus activities, faculty and staff events, and larger groups looking for a fun, interactive experience.
Which Challenge Is Right for Your Team?
Not sure which one to choose?
Different challenges emphasize different skills.
For Communication:
Blind Artist Challenge
Director & Artist
No-Talking Art Challenge
For Leadership:
Follow the Leaders
Art Escape Challenge
For Collaboration:
Conjoining Canvas Challenge
Collaborative Stained-Glass Challenge
Mystery Mural
One-Handed Partners
For Problem-Solving:
Art Escape Challenge
The Art Detective
No-Talking Art Challenge
For Trust:
Director & Artist
Blind Artist Challenge
One-Handed Partners
For Large Groups:
Mystery Mural
Collaborative Stained-Glass Challenge
Art Escape Challenge
For Friendly Competition:
The Art Detective
Blind Artist Challenge
Art Escape Challenge
Follow the Leaders
Director & Artist
For Leadership & Management Events:
Follow the Leaders
No-Talking Art Challenge
Art Escape Challenge
Make It Competitive
Many of our Team-Building Challenges can be turned into a full company competition.
Depending on the selected challenge, your event may include:
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Teams
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Team names
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Timed rounds
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Points
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Bonus challenges
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Accuracy scoring
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Creativity awards
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Judges
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Final reveals
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Winning teams
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Bragging rights
Want to take it one step further?
MixMatched Creations can also create custom prizes and awards for your event.
Prizes can be customized with company logos, event names, dates, team names, employee names, winning titles, funny awards, or other personalized details.
EXPLORE CUSTOM AWARDS & PRIZES →
Customize Your Challenge
Many Team-Building Challenges can be customized around your company or event.
Depending on the selected experience, we may be able to incorporate:
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Company colors
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Company logos
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Event themes
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Holiday themes
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Department names
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Company milestones
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Industry-related artwork
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Custom reference images
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Personalized prizes
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Company-specific clues or challenges
Have an idea of your own?
Tell us what you're thinking.
We may be able to create a custom challenge specifically for your company.
Ready to Challenge Your Team?
Tell us about your company, number of participants, event location, available time, and what you'd like your employees to get out of the experience.
We'll help you choose the challenge—or combination of challenges—that fits your group.
PLAN YOUR EVENT →
Looking for something more relaxed?