Desert Island

Purpose

Desert Island is a thought-provoking icebreaker that reveals personal priorities, creativity, and values. By answering the classic "what would you bring?" question, participants share a window into how they think and what matters to them. It works as a gentle opener because there is no wrong answer, and even the most reserved participants tend to enjoy the hypothetical challenge.

At a glance

• Group size: 4–25
• Duration: 10 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy
• Facilitation style: Round-robin sharing
• Setting: In-person or virtual

How to run

1. Pose the question: "If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you bring and why?"
2. Give participants 1 minute to think.
3. Go around the group, each person sharing their three items with a brief explanation.
4. Encourage light follow-up questions from the group.
5. Close by noting any themes or surprises that emerged.

Materials needed

• None

Pitfalls & common mistakes

• No follow-up: The magic is in the "why" — don't let people just list items without explaining.
• Judging answers: Keep the tone playful. There are no wrong answers.
• Taking too long: In groups over 15, consider splitting into smaller circles.
• Overthinking rules: Don't argue about whether "a boat" counts — the point is conversation, not survival logic.

Inclusion & accessibility

• Fully accessible — no physical activity required.
• Works well across cultures, though the facilitator can adjust the scenario if needed.
• Virtual-friendly with no adaptation needed.
• Allow participants to write their answers if speaking in front of the group is uncomfortable.

Variations

• Desert Island Books/Music/Films: Narrow the category for a themed session.
• Team Island: Small teams must agree on three shared items — adds negotiation.
• Luxury item round: After the practical three, each person adds one purely indulgent item.

When NOT to use this

• When the group has done this exercise many times before — it can feel stale.
• In groups that need high-energy physical activation — this is a calm, seated activity.
• When time is extremely tight (under 5 minutes) — it needs room for discussion.

Source & further reading

• Inspired by the BBC Radio 4 programme "Desert Island Discs" (running since 1942).
• A ubiquitous icebreaker in education, corporate training, and social settings.