Icebreakers · Name Games

Vanity Name Tent Cards

A creative self-introduction that doubles as a name tent for the rest of the session.

IcebreakerNamesLow Energy

Duration: 20 min
Participants: 1–5, 5–10, 10–20, 20–50, 50+
Energy: Low
Difficulty: Beginner
Materials: Minimal
Prep time: 5 minutes

3 min read · Delivery: Offline

Overview

Purpose. A creative self-introduction that doubles as a name tent for the rest of the session.

When to use. Right at the start of a session, especially a multi-day or longer program where name tents will stay on the table.

Best for. Any group size, in person.

Facilitator preparation

Gather: one blank card-stock name tent and a set of colored markers per participant, or a shared set at each table.
Review the Trainer's Reference below so you can explain the “vanity license plate” idea clearly.

Room setup. Seating with table space for participants to write and decorate.

Virtual setup. Have participants decorate a simple virtual name label instead, for example in a video platform's rename field or on a shared slide.

Hybrid setup. Give remote participants the same virtual adaptation while in-room participants use physical cards.

Materials. Card stock name tents, coloured markers

How to Conduct

Give each participant a blank name tent card and access to colored markers.
Explain the idea using the Trainer's Reference below, so the creative brief is clear before anyone starts.
Ask participants to decorate their name tent the way they'd design a personalized license plate: using symbols, a short phrase, or small drawings that say something about who they are.
Give participants 5–10 minutes to design their card.
Go around the group. Each person briefly explains what they created and why.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE GROUP

A few participants may hang back at first; let them opt in when they're ready rather than forcing a turn.

Trainer's Reference: what a “vanity license plate” is

A vanity license plate, also called a personalized plate, is a car license plate where the owner has chosen their own short combination of letters and numbers instead of the random one issued by default, usually to say something about themselves within a strict character limit. Common examples include things like “GR8DAY,” “LUV2WIN,” or a nickname squeezed into six characters. If this isn't a familiar concept for your group, you can simply describe the task directly instead: “Design your name tent the way you'd design a short, personal logo or motto, using symbols, a phrase, or a small drawing that says something about you.”

After the activity

DEBRIEF QUESTIONS

What part of “Vanity Name Tent Cards” felt easy, and what part felt harder than expected?
What did you choose to highlight about yourself, and why that in particular?

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

Where in your day-to-day work could summing yourself up in a few words or symbols, the way you just did, be useful?

Learning outcome. Participants leave with a name tent that says something real about them, and a card that stays useful for the rest of the session.