I learned about the T-Shirt Reflection activity from a professor in grad school, during my Death, Loss, and Grief class. At the end of the semester, the professor asked us to represent what we learned through this t-shirt designs- hang in there, I’ll explain. I like this activity because it’s simple, relatable, accessible for most people. Most of us are familiar with t-shirts and have simple drawing tools, such as paper and pencils. Let’s go!
What is a T-Shirt Reflection?
The T-Shirt Reflection is a tool for understanding change and growth. The front of the t-shirt represents the feelings, perspective, or knowledge a person has before an event, class, semester, session, etc.. And the back of the t-shirt represents feelings, perspective, or knowledge a person has after the event, class, semester, session, etc.. This creates space for participants to explore successes and challenges while hopefully having a little fun!
Benefits of a T-Shirt Reflection
The point of this exercise is to take a step back and reflect. It’s not meant to be taken too seriously yet can yield effective results, such as:
- Self-Expression: Participants can be creative and honest about their experiences. They can get messy! They can use color!
- Self-Awareness: It’s possible that participants won’t recognize how much they’ve learned without taking the time to reflect. The T-Shirt Reflection provides participants space and tools to come to understand themselves better.
- Sharing: It’s not always easy to share your thoughts and feelings. It can be intimidating! This reflection gives participants time to think things through and potentially connect with others.
When to Use the T-Shirt Reflection
The T-Shirt Reflection is appropriate and useful for both children and adults. You can use this activity if you’re a teacher, social worker, therapist, camp counselor, youth group leader, coach, daycare provider, retreat host, parent, baby sitter, or any other position.
Communication through verbal or written language isn’t available for everyone, making art and play powerful tools for expression. The combination of the literal t-shirt shape with the abstract conceptualization of experiences and feelings makes this exercise challenging enough to keep people interested.
Some adults will find this activity juvenile or a waste of time! That’s ok. Not every activity is for every person, but it’s still worth trying. The T-Shirt Reflection is best received when participants are primed and the activity is framed in an appropriate context.
Here are some suggestions if you’re nervous about working with adults:
- Remind them that they don’t have to draw! They can cover the shirt with words, patterns, or color. For real, someone could color the front of the shirt red and the back of the shirt blue and that would “count”.
- They don’t have to share with others. People don’t want to be embarrassed or judged and will resist participating if they’re scared. Make sharing optional.
- Don’t limit yourself to t-shirts. Change the type of clothing to the group you’re working with: use a suit for a group of lawyers; Patagonia vests for tech bros; lab coats for doctors….you get it. When you meet people where they are, they’re more responsive to the process and invested in the outcome.
Suggested Materials
Make this exercise as challenging or as simple as you want! The simplest form of this activity would be to draw two t-shirt shapes on the same piece of paper and label one shirt “Front” and the other shirt “Back”. Another option is to draw a t-shirt on a piece of paper and cut it out, so designs can be drawn on both sides. If you really want to go all out, you could source actual t-shirts from the dollar store or thrift store.
Here is a short list of useful materials:
- T-shirt prints or blank paper
- Drawing materials (markers, crayons, colored pencils, paint)
- Craft supplies (feathers, yarn, fabric, construction paper, glitter, beads, etc.)
- Scissors
- Glue and/or tape for attaching craft supplies
- Optional: Actual t-shirts, fabric markers, fabric paint, cardboard inserts
This PDF is a very simple outline of the front and back of a T-shirt. Feel free to download and print!
Preparing Participants
It’s important to properly prepare participants for this activity so they can understand what’s expected and how to succeed*. They deserve to have as much information as possible and know how this exercise will affect them.
- Start preparing participants as early as possible. Be clear that there will be a reflection process at the end of the session. Let participants know that they will have an opportunity to explore their feelings, knowledge, awareness, and ideas.
- How much time is this going to take? Whether they have ten minutes, an hour, or a week to complete the activity, be clear with the participants about what timeline they are working with.
- What is expected? Some people need to know their parameters to feel safe. Are participants expected to share their t-shirts with a larger group? Are they expected to explain their rationale? Will they be graded?
- Will they get messy? If you’re using glue and glitter, people might want to change clothes or account for extra time to clean up.
- Who will see their final product? People like to know ahead of time if their t-shirt will be displayed to the public. Imagine how responses would change if participants think their t-shirts are anonymous and private versus expected their t-shirts to be widely distributed.
- How honest should they be? Your participants should know whether or not there are repercussions for anything they admit. Are you a mandated reporter?
- What isn’t allowed? Hateful language or imagery, or anything of a disrespectful nature, will not be tolerated and will involve appropriate consequences.
*It’s impossible to succeed at this activity because it’s impossible to fail 🙂
Giving Instructions
The exact instructions you provide to participants will depend on what style of t-shirt they’re making. Here are a couple tips:
- Keep the it simple: Try to limit instructions. This will not only allow people to be more creative, but will avoid confusion. Here’s one way you could provide instructions: 1) Take out a piece of paper and draw the front and back of a t-shirt, 2) On the front of the t-shirt show what you knew before this class, 3) On the back of the t-shirt show what you know after this class, 4) You will have 20 minutes to complete this activity and then you will have an opportunity to share your work with the class.
- Minimize limitations: We don’t want participants to think small, so try to not to confine their creativity. For example, instead of telling participants, “Fold your paper in half and draw a t-shirt on each half,” opt for something like, “Draw two t-shirts on your paper.” They have the freedom to determine for themselves how things will turn out.
- Consider whether or not to show examples: Examples can be helpful and potentially manipulative- use them with caution. Some participants might feel uneasy or freeze due to the lack of explicit instruction. I recommend having examples available to show them if you notice they need additional insight.
- Allow time for questions: Participants who want a more in-depth explanation should have the opportunity to ask questions and reduce their anxiety.
- Accept that final products might vary!
I made these teeny tiny examples with paper from the recycling bin.
Debriefing Techniques and Follow-Up Questions
Not every activity requires a big debrief. However, participants might feel a lack of closure or disappointed if they aren’t able to share their work. Provide at least a few minutes for those who want to show off their t-shirts.
As far as leading a debrief or responding to work, here are some techniques:
- Make observations about their work: This is more difficult than it seems because we’re programmed to compulsively compliment. Instead of saying something like, “I love the colors you used,” try saying “you used a lot of different colors.” They might start explaining the colors. If you’re met with silence, ask “why did you make those choices?”.
- Ask participants to explain their process: “Tell us about your t-shirt?”, “how did you design your t-shirt?”, “what materials did you use?”, or “why did you choose this style?”.
- Create a timeline of their thoughts: Ask questions like, “what were you thinking when you started?” and “how did your thinking change as you progressed?”.
- Ask about challenges and successes: How did the participants represent challenges in their t-shirt design? How did participants represent successes?
- Comparisons: Ask participants to compare the front and back of their t-shirts as this tells us where growth occurred and what was learned. “What are the differences between the front and back of your shirt?”
- “What makes you proud?”
Considerations
Your design doesn’t need to be a t-shirt! Think about the audience you’re working with and adapt to their cultural norms.
Some participants will feel uncomfortable expressing their feelings through a creative medium. These participants can write words on their t-shirts instead of drawing.
Sharing t-shirts with the larger group should be optional. You can do a pair-and-share debrief if you think participants would be more comfortable.