From highly skilled professionals and teams working in some of the world’s largest and most highly valued corporations, to small businesses, public institutions, charities, and all kinds of organisations built by people — any team can use play to unlock creativity, find unconventional ways to solve problems, and drive innovation.
One way to do this is through LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®.
What Is LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®?
LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® is a facilitated methodology that uses something most of us know and love: LEGO® bricks.
The method builds on the values that have been at the heart of the LEGO® brand from the very beginning. Its mission is to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow through values such as creativity, play, imagination, caring, learning, and quality.
So, what does this have to do with teams?
Quite a lot.
Through carefully designed challenges and exercises, LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® can be used to tackle real problems in both business and educational settings.
This unique approach was developed by LEGO in collaboration with Professors Bart Victor and Johan Roos from IMD Business School in Switzerland in the early 2000s. The aim was to stimulate visual thinking and make communication and collaboration within teams more effective.
The Principles Behind LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®
At the heart of the methodology is a simple idea: everyone has something valuable to contribute to a discussion and to solving a problem.
The method is built around four key principles:
1. Every voice matters
Participants are encouraged to share their ideas and perspectives by building models with LEGO bricks. This creates space for everyone to contribute equally, regardless of their role, position, or communication style.
And, of course, it also gives our imagination a chance to do some of the work.
2. Thinking with your hands
Building with LEGO engages both the mind and the body, which can increase involvement, focus, and attention to the task at hand.
Instead of simply talking about an idea, participants get to think through their hands and make their thinking tangible.
3. Visualisation and metaphors.
LEGO models provide a visual and tangible representation of thoughts, ideas, and concepts. This makes abstract or complex topics easier to communicate, explore, and understand.
4. Storytelling
Participants tell stories based on the models they have built, explaining what their models represent and why.
This helps deepen understanding, uncover different perspectives, and make key insights more memorable.
What Does a LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Workshop Look Like?
A LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® workshop can be designed around a variety of goals.
You might use it to explore how your team works together and build more authentic teamwork. Or you might focus on a specific challenge or problem your organisation is currently facing.
Every stage of the process matters. Skipping steps can mean missing valuable insights — and the opportunity to turn them into concrete solutions.
So, what does a typical workshop look like?
- The challenge: The facilitator introduces a question or challenge, which participants respond to by building a LEGO model. Everyone works with the same specially designed LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® set.
- Building the models: Participants build models that represent their answers, ideas, perspectives, or potential solutions.
- Sharing the story: Each participant presents their model, explaining what it represents and how it connects to the challenge.
- Reflection and discussion: The group explores the models together, looking at different perspectives, identifying common themes, and working towards innovative solutions.
Why Bring LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Into Your Organisation?
LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® can be used in a wide range of business contexts, including:
- Strategy development and future scenario planning
- Team building and improving communication within and across departments
- Solving complex problems
- Generating innovative ideas
- Supporting organisational change and adaptation
- Strengthening creativity and critical thinking
- Building more effective collaboration
- Team integration and conflict resolution
LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® is a powerful tool for turning abstract ideas into something people can see, discuss, and work with.
By combining creativity, hands-on exploration, and structured facilitation, the methodology supports innovation, effective communication, and collaboration. LEGO bricks make complex challenges more tangible and help teams generate creative solutions in a way that is engaging, accessible, and meaningful for everyone involved.
