Open-ended images and metaphors encourage participants to observe, interpret, reflect, share stories, and create personal meaning.
A.P.P.L.E · Reflection and storytelling
Ti Yan: every card opens a different experience
A multi-layered, dual-playable learning and facilitation card system that combines visual metaphors, quotations, colour, shape, and symbol markers to stimulate reflection, conversation, insight, and meaningful learning.
Dual-sided visual and quote cards
What is Ti Yan?
Pictures that help people find their own words
Named after the Chinese word for experience, Ti Yan uses visual metaphors to help learners express thoughts, memories, emotions, opinions, insights, and personal stories.
Every image can carry more than one meaning. Different people can look at the same card and connect it to completely different experiences, making each conversation personal and unique.
- Trigger reflection and meaningful sharing
- Spark stories, memories, and conversations
- Surface different opinions and perspectives
- Help learners synthesise learning and commitments
- Support ice-breakers, debriefs, coaching, and group dialogue
Dual-sidedVisual and quotation entry points
4 markersColour, shape, symbol and card number
7 layersFrom visual metaphor to participant meaning-making
FlexibleCoaching, facilitation, teams and reflection
What makes Ti Yan v4 different
A facilitation platform in card form
Both sides of every card are playable. The visual opens interpretation, the quotation provides perspective, and the embedded markers create many ways to group, prompt, coach, and facilitate.
Each quotation can act as a reflection trigger, discussion starter, source of inspiration, or coaching prompt.
Seven colours, four shapes, and conversation symbols can become thinking lenses, team-formation tools, and activity prompts.
Individual numbering supports inventory checks, card referencing, random selection, and additional facilitator-designed exercises.
Ti Yan Card V4 activities
Two simple ways to use the cards
These activities can be adapted to different group sizes, learning environments, and facilitation goals.
This Is Me
Learners use picture cards to introduce themselves in a more memorable and personal way.
- Ask each learner to think of two or three pieces of information they would like to use in their self-introduction.
- Invite them to select cards that represent those pieces of information.
- In small groups, learners take turns introducing themselves and explaining why they selected their cards.
- After everyone has shared, continue the activity in a mingle format so learners can repeat the introduction with other people in the room.
My Takeaway
Learners reflect on the day and use selected cards to communicate their biggest learning.
- Invite learners to reflect on what has transpired throughout the day.
- Ask them to identify their biggest learning or most important takeaway.
- Let each learner choose a few cards that represent that learning.
- Start with sharing in small groups, then invite selected learners or the whole group to share with the full class.
More facilitator-ready activities
Use the same deck throughout the learning journey
Ti Yan can support centering, goal setting, reflection, storytelling, coaching, team formation, and networking without requiring additional activity decks.
What I Feel Like Expressing (WIFLE)
Type: Small-group ice-breaker
- Spread the cards face up before participants enter.
- Participants select one or two cards representing how they feel right now.
- They introduce themselves and explain their selected cards in small groups.
- Harvest the feelings heard in the room and reinforce that feelings are neither right nor wrong; awareness helps people choose constructive action.
Unique Strength in Unity
Type: Strength-based ice-breaker
- Each participant selects a card representing a strength they bring to the group.
- They introduce themselves using the sentence: “My name is … and the strength I bring is …”
- Record the strengths identified by each small group.
- Harvest by noticing the range of strengths in the room and discussing what the group can achieve collectively.
Focus Intent
Type: Goal setting
- Select one card representing a goal for the day, course, or programme.
- Select a second card representing the support needed to achieve it.
- Share both cards, the goal, and the requested support.
- Invite the group to consciously support one another throughout the programme.
Daily Reflection
Type: End-of-day learning review
- Select cards representing the biggest learning of the day.
- Share the learning and explain how it will be applied.
- Harvest examples from the room and coach learners to make their application specific.
- Close by reinforcing that learning creates value when it is put into action.
Story in Fours
Type: Storytelling and reframing
- Think of a story and divide it into four parts.
- Select a card for each part and tell the story using the cards.
- Rearrange the four parts and retell the story from a different starting point.
- Reflect on what changed and what new meaning emerged from the reframing.
Colour Connection Method
Type: Meaningful team formation and networking
- Participants choose a card that attracts their attention and reflect on its visual and quote.
- They reveal the colour marker and find others with the same colour.
- Groups discuss what their colour might represent, the strengths it brings, or the perspective it contributes.
- For conferences, add a mixer: discuss the card, find the colour family, identify a common theme, and create a team name.
The full Ti Yan v4 User Manual also includes colour lenses, shape-based thinking modes, symbol conversation prompts, reflection wheels, coaching uses, leadership activities, and facilitation challenge combinations.
Inside the deck
Hand-drawn images with room for interpretation
The visual language is intentionally open-ended so the cards can support many different conversations and learning outcomes.
Explore the collection
Continue with the word-play tools
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The same creative word-play system in a portable card format that is easier to carry and set up.
Visit Alfa Cards →
Bring reflection into the room
Use Ti Yan to make sharing more visual, personal, and meaningful
Explore the product or speak to the neOOne team about using Ti Yan in your programme, workshop, classroom, or team session.