In today’s fast-paced world, innovation is not just a buzzword—it’s a strategic necessity. Facilitators, educators, and team leaders are turning to hybrid tools that engage both sides of the brain: the creative and the logical.
Enter two powerful approaches: the LEGO® Serious Play® Method and the Design Thinking process.
Individually, each is a valuable tool. Together, they form an innovative process that fuels creative thinking, uncovers deeper understanding, and drives meaningful insights. In this blog, we explore how these methods complement one another, resulting in a collaborative scenario where teams can build innovative solutions—brick by brick.
What Is the Design Thinking Process?
The Design Thinking process is a structured approach to problem-solving, made up of five core phases:
- Empathize: Understand the human needs involved.
- Define: Re-frame and define the problem in human-centric ways.
- Ideate: Create many ideas in ideation sessions.
- Prototype: Start creating solutions.
- Test: Test solutions with users.
Popularized by IDEO and featured in the Harvard Business Review, Design Thinking emphasizes creative potential, abstract thinking, and user-centered innovation. It has become an essential process in organizational development, education, Agile teams, and project management.
What Is the LEGO® Serious Play® Method?
The LEGO® Serious Play® Method, developed in the late 1990s by Bart Victor and Johan Roos, is a hands-on methodology that uses LEGO bricks—including basic bricks, colorful bricks, and Lego characters—to support abstract discussion, improve team collaboration, and unlock valuable insights.
It’s used by 4–8 participants or more, guided by open-ended questions and a series of questions that stimulate creative solutions. Teams build models, including individual models, a core model, and storytelling models, to explore complex issues, generate alternative solutions, and align on adaptive strategies.
Why Combine These Two Methods?
The combination of LEGO® Serious Play® and Design Thinking offers the best of both worlds: a creative approach and advanced facilitation techniques. While Design Thinking drives a logical thinking flow, LEGO® Serious Play® offers a tactile approach that enhances storytelling, prototyping games, and systems thinking.
Together, they enable:
- Faster idea generation
- Stronger alignment among team members
- Accelerated innovation through game mechanics
- Advanced techniques in soft skills development
- A richer, more playful way to design actionable strategies
Applying LEGO® Serious Play® to Design Thinking Stages
1. Empathize: Discovering Human Needs
Use LEGO® Serious Play® to build 3D models that reflect real user emotions, pain points, and unmet needs. This encourages psychological safety, allowing individual participants to express abstract concepts in a safe space without fear of failure.
2. Define: Framing the Problem
After sharing models, identify key elements, common themes, and complex ideas. Building metaphorical representations helps teams gain a solid understanding of the problem space.
3. Ideate: Generating Creative and Innovative Ideas
Use design games and game mechanics like “build-and-share” to spark creative solutions. Ask teams to prototype ideas using colorful bricks and explore the solution space using visual thinking.
4. Prototype: Testing and Creating 3D Prototypes
The tactile nature of LEGO® makes it ideal for quick prototypes. Teams can co-create 3D bricks models that simulate real-world interactions, leadership training, or even employee-robot collaboration scenarios.
5. Test: Learning Through Feedback and Iteration
Each model becomes a prototype of ideas. In the debrief sessions, participants share ideas, gather feedback, and refine their builds to explore potential outcomes and innovative strategies.
The Benefits for Companies and Teams
This hybrid method offers a process for companies that need:
- Better team building and team dynamics
- Stronger collaboration among participants
- Insightful team meetings beyond traditional formats
- Aligned strategic thinking and leadership development
- Tools for business performance, strategic planning, and continuous improvement
It’s also ideal for corporate culture initiatives, advanced facilitation skills programs, and workshop methodology training.
A Valuable Asset in Your Facilitation Toolkit
Combining the LEGO® Serious Play® Method with the Design Thinking process creates a dynamic environment where abstract ideas take form, teams align, and creative thinking leads to real-world solutions.
Whether you’re working in agile projects, exploring gamification projects, or guiding leadership training, this hybrid method is a valuable asset that drives collaboration, insight, and innovation culture—one brick at a time.
FAQs
Is this method only for creative teams?
No. It’s used in leadership, education, HR, tech, and even complex industries like energy and healthcare.
Can I use it online?
Yes. You can adapt both processes for remote settings using tools like Miro, Gather, or even an online game format.
How many people can participate?
Workshops typically work best with 4–8 participants but can scale with the right facilitation approach.
What results can I expect?
Teams gain a deeper understanding, generate creative ideas, and align faster with shared insights.
Is training required?
Yes. For best results, work with trained facilitators who understand both LEGO® Serious Play® Method and design thinking workshop mechanics.
