Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of applying appreciative intelligence and appreciative inquiry concepts to design a possibly new model of ice-breaking, which is strengths-based and very often used in any training in general and team building training in particular. Design/methodology/approach: The design has evolved from the authors' study and practice of appreciative intelligence and appreciative inquiry in their consulting and facilitation work. Findings: A new ice-breaking design is proposed which is built on a strengths-based generative model of appreciative intelligence and appreciative inquiry. The new design infuses creativity and positive envisioning into the context of team-building intervention. The appreciatively intelligent ice-breaking design engages the team energy in an inspiring manner, channeling the team deliberations and working with a focused positive agenda founded in generative capabilities. Arguments are offered in terms of how the proposed new design is different and advantageous over the traditional ice-breaking model. Originality/value: This paper presents a value-seeking and value-adding design of an ice-breaking exercise in the context of a team building intervention. Practical implications of this new design for both OD practitioners/trainers and academic educators are discussed. (Contains 1 table.)