The client: EDable Architecture are an architectural practice who like to work collaboratively at a wide variety of scales. As such the practice has a sister company PLYable Design whose focus is on furniture, lighting and products, and a service they call VISable Thinking to help visualise complex problems. EDable Architecture enjoy working simultaneously on a diverse range of projects from ‘interesting’ extensions to urban & rural scale masterplanning projects. Through their research and studio teaching links with Newcastle University they also explore system and infrastructure scale thinking. Underpinning this broad spectrum of interests and experience is a belief that design and architecture should be about people – individuals and communities, balancing this against the needs of the planet.

Overview: A LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® half-day workshop designed and delivered to introduce the methodology using a “real-time strategy for the team” format.

The session was designed to help unlock existing knowledge within the team, and to highlight potential ways forward and opportunities.  The intention being to enhance the overall effectiveness of organisation and to introduce the method on an experiential level.

Starting point:

Architects [in general] tend to understand:

• The power of models

• Iteration

• Spatial thinking

• Symbolism in structure

Therefore:

Just as an architect builds a model to:

• Test structural ideas

• Make abstract concepts visible

• Invite critique and collaboration

LEGO models were constructed to:

• Make invisible thinking visible

• Surface assumptions

• Explore complexity safely

• Ensure every voice was heard

The science part [why it worked]:

• Building activates different cognitive processes than just talking.

• Hands-on construction slows thinking down.

• Metaphor allows complex ideas to surface safely.

• Equal airtime creates psychological safety.

Outcomes:

“The session proved unexpectedly disarming in terms of breaking down any day to day communication barriers between team members. It also really helped elevate discussions around the alignment of personal and practice values.

By building a lego model of aspects of practice life  / values / processes / structures and then stress testing this against a number of scenarios the session really helped us appreciate the value of regular communications in an essentially flexible workplace.”