“Yes, And” is a phrase from the art of improv. Saying “Yes, And” to our partner in a scene has benefits. It builds trust and it keeps the conversation going rather than shutting it down. It also allows our partners to introduce constraints to our shared creative process. This benefit isn’t celebrated as much as the others but I think it should be. Constraints help us find our way in a creative process that feels wide and overwhelming. Many of the principles shared in this mini series on PLAY can be used as creative constraints in “Yes, And” conversations to build trust, to keep the conversation going, and to increase creativity.
Person X: Let’s go on a journey
Person Y: Yes, and, let’s do it in the springtime (Change the Season)
Person X: Yes, and, let’s make a mix tape for the road (Sample + Remix)
Person Y: Yes, and, all of the songs on it should be silly (Make it Silly)
Person X: Yes, and, we should sing along enthusiastically but always in whispers (The Whispered “Ah”)
Person Y singing in a whisper: “Tonight the music seems so loud / I wish that we could lose this crowd.”
And on and on and on. (Joy in Repetition)
This post is part of a mini series on “12 Days of Play“
TUNING Design Co. 