the science of play at work ™
WHY WE HAVE A SANDBOX
Play has always been a powerful way to learn, connect, and make sense of complex systems. But too often, it lives behind closed doors. It’s siloed in organizations, underutilized in practice, or dependent on individual facilitators figuring things out alone. We believe play becomes more impactful and accessible when it’s built in the open.
The Sandbox exists to create that kind of space. A place where practitioners can bring real work into the room, co-create new approaches, and learn from each other in motion. Our 4 featured programs are shared below.
DIGS
Bring the work you’re actually wrestling with. In Small groups meet over a quarter to unpack real challenges like facilitation designs, game concepts, client tensions, or business decisions. Through structured hot seats and focused peer input, ideas get clarified, pressure-tested, and moved forward. This is where stuck work starts moving again.
SANDCASTLES
This is where ideas turn into something tangible. Peers bring together a small group around a shared build, whether it is a new game, tool, facilitation guide, or experimental method. With a clear scope and timeline, you are not just contributing. You are co-creating something real that you can use, share, and point to as part of your work.
PLAYDATES
Sometimes the most valuable thing is having one person in your corner. Pair with another practitioner for a quarter of connection. It is a space to test ideas, think out loud, rehearse, or stay accountable. Simple by design, but often the difference between ideas lingering and ideas evolving.
TOYS & TIPS
A newsletter curated by Barometer XP featuring new games, facilitation methods, platforms, experiments, and playful integrations for professional practice. You are invited to contribute ideas, tools, and experiments, turning the newsletter into a collaborative resource hub.