Creative Team Building in Vienna Without Awkward Games
Team building events are very popular nowadays, and for good reason. They are a great opportunity to bond outside working hours, decompress from the stress of everyday life and connect with colleagues in a different environment.
In Vienna, there are so many possibilities for corporate events, from escape rooms and treasure hunts to cooking, chocolate making and everything in between.
My approach is a little different.
I believe that a good team-building experience doesn't have to force everyone to do the same thing, compete against each other or participate in awkward games. Instead, we could focus on igniting creativity, a broad, valuable and much-needed skill in our everyday lives, by letting people simply create side by side, have fun, talk, unwind, experiment and enjoy being together.
And that is team building too.
Creativity is a workplace skill too
Creativity is often treated as something we need when we paint, draw or sculpt, but it is actually a skill we use all the time. We need creativity to find solutions at work, meet customer expectations, write a good email, sell an idea, approach a problem from a different angle and, very importantly, work as a team.
Like any other skill, creativity benefits from being exercised and experimented with, and handcrafting can add so much to that. When you work with a material like polymer clay, you are using your vision, touch, movement, planning and attention, all at once. You have to slow down, make decisions and stay present to focus on what you are making.
It is also a great way to step away from the stress of everyday work, where instead of consuming more information, you are physically engaged in making something.
They can encourage creative thinking, help reduce stress, build patience and confidence, and, perhaps most importantly, give people a chance to connect without the usual pressures of the workplace.
And then, there is the little moment of achievement when you look at what you have made and think: "Wow, I made this!"
That is what I want to bring to creative team building events in Vienna.
So, what do you actually do?
My team-building experiences, just like all my work, are always based around polymer clay, a modelling material that you shape by hand and bake in a low-temperature oven.
You can choose from my existing workshop ideas, or we can create something specifically for your company, brand or team.
The format can be adapted to your needs, group size, company identity and the kind of experience you want to create.
Everyone creates their own Desk Buddy
Photo credit: Alan Silva
This is my main team-building activity offer, and one of my favourites.
Desk Buddies is a creative workshop where participants shape and decorate colourful little figures or decorative objects and transform them into unique desk companions, finished with a photo-holder wire. They can display a favourite memory, an inspirational image, a reminder or simply something that makes them smile.
Everyone can follow their own ideas, or use a handy DIY booklet I created with inspiration and guidance. The result is always completely personal, and when everyone goes back to their desk with their little companion, it becomes a daily reminder of the creativity and fun they shared with their team.
Create one big team project
Another possibility is to make the experience more collaborative.
Everyone starts creating their own piece, but every ten minutes, we switch buddies. Someone adds something to what another person started, then passes it on again. By the end, nobody has created a piece entirely on their own and the final result becomes a real team effort, a little bit unpredictable, a little bit chaotic and hopefully a lot of fun.
Create your company mascot
Why not turn your company mascot into a polymer clay character?
Or create your own versions of an existing character, logo or symbol connected to your company?
We can also work with your company's colour palette, creating a collection of pieces that visually belongs to your brand.
For multinational teams, we could create symbols or Desk Buddies inspired by each person's home country, culture or something that reminds them of home.
This is where I really enjoy the flexibility of polymer clay. There are so many possibilities, and the workshop can be shaped around what makes sense for your team.
A real story: 60 people, 96 Desk Buddies
So far, one of my favourite examples of what a creative team-building experience can become happened at a large corporate summer party.
I had the opportunity to bring polymer clay into the creative corner of the event and work with 60 people, turning a space dedicated to tables into a room dedicated to making.
With eight colours of FIMO per person, shared materials, a little guidance and a lot of fun, the space quickly came alive.
There was laughter, teamwork, a beautiful sense of connection and even a touch of childhood nostalgia.
Photo credit: Alan Silva
By the end of the day, 96 Desk Buddies had come to life. They were all made and baked on site, and by the end of the event, everyone was carrying their own little buddy.
And this is what I love most about these experiences: it is never just about the little figures people take home. It is always about what happened while they were making them. People were talking. Helping each other. Sharing ideas. Showing their creations. Laughing at what they had made.
But there were also people who were completely focused on their own little world, enjoying a bit of me-time. And those who simply did not want to leave the creative corner… time just seemed to freeze for them.
And all of it was happening in the same space, and they were all proud of what they had made, eager to see their creations baked.
That is the beauty of a creative team building activity: you can work together without necessarily having to create the same thing, respecting everyone’s voice, pace and moment.
A creative experience shaped around your team
While my workshops are always centred around polymer clay, the experience doesn't have to follow a fixed formula.
Maybe your team needs something relaxed after work.
Maybe you are looking for an activity during a company event.
Maybe you want to celebrate a milestone, welcome new colleagues or simply give your team some time away from their screens.
Maybe you want to bring your company's colours into the experience.
Or perhaps you have an idea that we haven't even thought of yet.
Let's talk about it.
My workshops combine practical artist guidance with a relaxed and playful atmosphere.
They are beginner-friendly, conducted in English, and all materials are provided.
For smaller groups, I can host up to 8 people at the Nikah Costa Pop-Up Studio in Vienna's 9th district, a cosy creative space where teams can step away from the office environment and spend some time making, talking and connecting.
For larger groups or corporate events, I can also bring the experience to your chosen venue.
If you are looking for team building activities in Vienna that feel a little different, something creative, relaxed and genuinely fun, maybe polymer clay is worth a try.
No awkward games required. 😉
Get in touch and let's create something together.
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