Imitation alone cannot explain language evolution. Two additional ingredients have been proposed that may help explain the evolution of language systems: learning biases and social collaboration. An experimental method was developed that isolated the roles of collaboration and learning biases in the development of novel communication systems. Participants played a Pictionary-like task to develop ad hoc graphical communication systems in one of two conditions: one in which they interacted with a partner (Interaction condition), and one in which they received the same images from a “pseudo-partner” but did not interact (Pseudo-Interaction condition). Comparison of the resultant communication systems showed that the Interaction condition yielded higher identification accuracy, greater refinement of graphical signs and more alignment on a set of shared graphical signs (in fact, graphical alignment did not occur at all in the Pseudo-Interaction condition). Thus, collaboration plays a crucial role in the evolution of human communication systems.