By Chad Moore in Case Study — 07 Sep 2025

Case Study: Applied Improv for Creative Education

Transforming Communication and Collaboration at Pixels and Polygons Animation School

The Challenge

Pixels and Polygons: School of Digital Art & Animation approached Chad Moore to address common challenges faced by aspiring animators and digital artists:

Communication barriers between students from diverse backgrounds
Collaboration difficulties in team-based creative projects
Creative blocks and self-consciousness limiting artistic expression
Uncertainty intolerance when facing the unpredictable nature of creative work

As animation inherently involves storytelling and character development—skills closely aligned with improvisational theater—the school sought an innovative approach to develop these soft skills alongside technical training.

The Approach: "Playing with Complexity"

Chad designed a 3-hour Applied Improv workshop focused on three core areas:

Communication: Deep listening and responsive interaction
Collaboration: Building on others' ideas through "Yes, and" principles
Creativity: Working with constraints and embracing uncertainty

The workshop structure deliberately mirrored the unpredictable nature of creative work, with the agenda "subject to change based on what emerges."

The Process

Phase 1: Preparation (20 minutes)

Warmup games to "shake off the day" and transition mindsets
Exercises to establish psychological safety and reduce self-consciousness
Rapid idea generation activities to work from abundance rather than scarcity

Phase 2: Communication & Creativity (30 minutes)

Storytelling games with escalating constraints
Deep listening exercises—a hallmark of effective communication
Building creativity through structured limitations

Phase 3: Collaborative Storytelling (30 minutes)

Multi-layer storytelling games with interconnected participant roles
Advanced listening and building skills
Real-time creative problem-solving

Phase 4: Scene Work (45 minutes)

Character-focused improvisation
"Three line scene" exercises (unexpectedly popular with participants)
Extended exploration based on emerging group energy

Phase 5: Applied Practice (15 minutes)

"Backline games" using animation-specific prompts
"Animating with me is like..." exercises connecting improv to their field
Industry-relevant improvisation

The Results

Immediate Outcomes:

High engagement levels—students jumped into advanced exercises earlier than anticipated
Sustained energy throughout the 3-hour session
Enthusiastic participation in all activities

Participant Feedback: The most telling result came from student feedback: "When can we do it again?"

This response indicates the workshop successfully:

Created a positive, engaging learning experience
Demonstrated clear value to participants
Left students wanting more development in these skills

Broader Impact:

Students experienced increased comfort with uncertainty—essential for creative work
Enhanced collaborative skills through embodied learning
Strengthened communication abilities through active practice
Improved creative confidence through structured risk-taking

This case demonstrates how Applied Improv serves as training for navigating complex, unpredictable creative environments:

Uncertainty as Opportunity: Rather than trying to control outcomes, participants learned to influence and respond to emerging situations—directly applicable to animation projects where technical constraints and creative visions constantly evolve.

Collaborative Intelligence: The "Yes, and" principle taught students to build on each other's ideas rather than competing or blocking—essential for animation teams working across disciplines.

Embodied Learning: Unlike traditional workshops, improv creates new neural pathways through physical and emotional engagement, leading to lasting behavioral change.

Applications for Creative Organizations

This case study demonstrates Applied Improv's effectiveness for:

Animation studios facing cross-functional collaboration challenges
Design agencies needing better client communication and team dynamics
Creative educational institutions developing both technical and interpersonal skills
Any creative organization seeking to build comfort with uncertainty and change

The workshop's success at Pixels and Polygons shows how "playing with complexity" can transform how creative professionals approach collaboration, communication, and innovation.

Interested in bringing Applied Improv to your creative team or educational program? Chad Moore specializes in helping creative organizations navigate complexity through embodied learning experiences that build lasting collaborative skills.