Improv X Design: Finding Solutions in Unexpected Places

When I recently signed up for an improv class, I was looking for a change of pace, a way to shake up my routines. What I didn’t expect was how deeply the process of improv would relate to my work in architecture and design. Improv, at its core, is about scenario planning and collaboration: you start with a spark — sometimes an off-the-wall idea or single phrase — and from there, build a whole world in the moment. Sound familiar? It’s essentially the same approach we take when tackling a new project at SNDBX.

In both improv and architecture, we start with seemingly small ideas or issues and transform them into something bigger – a solution that addresses dozens of needs all at once. Improv has taught me to see even the smallest idea as a potential gateway to a valid conceptual solution, one that can solve more than a single issue but create a ripple of positive effects across a project.

For instance, in our work, we may start with a client’s vague sense of wanting “something different” or “a more community-focused space.” Through thoughtful exploration—just like improvising on stage—we follow that initial thought, letting it expand, merge, and adapt until it becomes a fully realized design that brings new life to a building or space. 

Improv has also reinforced the importance of flexibility. In both design and on stage, plans shift and change, new challenges arise, and we have to adapt in real-time. Bringing this mindset into our work has led to more resilient, adaptable spaces and solutions that are stronger because of the unexpected. Just as with improv, our goal at SNDBX is to respond creatively, to build solutions with long-term impact in mind, and to find the joy and possibility in each step of the process.