A common misconception when discussion LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® is that it involves creating miniature representations of the real world. This misses the point of the method and can often lead to circular discussions and low grade ideas due to the restrictive nature of lego bricks as a medium. If however we fully embrace the metaphorical aspect of the method we can make amazing things happen. So what does LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® add to Interior Design as a discipline?

1. It turns abstract ideas into physical form
Interior design often starts with vague concepts like “cozy,” “modern,” “energizing.”
Building with LEGO forces people to translate feelings into shapes, layouts, and structures, which makes ideas clearer and easier to discuss.

2. It improves communication with clients
Not everyone can read floor plans or visualize 3D spaces. LEGO models act as a shared visual language, so clients can literally point to what they like or dislike.

3. It encourages creativity and experimentation
Because LEGO is low-stakes and playful, people are more willing to try unusual layouts, furniture placements, or spatial concepts they might not suggest in a formal setting.

4. It reveals how people experience space
Participants often build models that reflect how they feel in a space e.g., barriers, openness, flow, which gives designers insight into user experience, not just aesthetics.

5. It supports collaborative design
Teams can co-create models, making it great for workshops where designers, stakeholders, and users all contribute to shaping a space.

So what this might look like in practice?

In an interior design workshop, you might:

• Ask clients to build how their ideal living room feels 
• Have them model how they move through a space and how they react.
• Create a “before and after” model of a redesign to show the critical aspects and ‘deal breakers”
• Build metaphors like “a space that feels calm” or “a space that energises” to prompt deeper discussion and identify core themes.

Then the designer translates those models into real design elements:

• Layout decisions
• Lighting choices
• Materials and textures
• Furniture placement
• Colour usage

The last part falls into the “easier said than done” category but that’s what interior designers do best.