Blending physical and digital play with LEGO
During my time at CIID, I collaborated with LEGO on an industry project exploring the future of digital play. Together with my classmate Henriette Kruse Jørgensen, we set out to imagine a LEGO experience that blends physical and digital creativity, celebrating open-ended play, self-expression, and storytelling beyond gender or age.
Organization
CIID (Masters program)
Timelimne
Sep 2014 (2 weeks)
Role
Interaction Designer in a team of two
Scope
Physical Computing • UX/UI • Videography
Goal
Explore how LEGO could evolve into a digital platform for creative expression—combining tangible building with digital storytelling to inspire imagination, learning, and inclusivity.
A tool for kids to create pixel art
LEGO Pix is a playful tool for children aged 7–12—and curious adults—to create pixel art with LEGO bricks. It invites storytelling, experimentation, and creative play beyond the physical build. Bricks placed on a special 16×16 base plate are instantly mirrored on screen in real time. Finished designs can be saved or turned into simple animations.
While our prototype used computer vision and a laptop for the mirroring, the long-term vision was for this to happen on an intelligent base plate connected to any device of choice. Digital creations could then live on smartwatches or picture frames, while an online platform would let the community exchange inspiration and building instructions.
Blending physical and digital play
While our prototype used computer vision and a laptop for the mirroring, the long-term vision was for this to happen on an intelligent base plate connected to any device of choice. Digital creations could then live on smartwatches or picture frames, while an online platform would let the community exchange inspiration and building instructions.
Concept
Although LEGO asked us to imagine a digital LEGO experience, Henriette and I added our own constraints: how could the pure brick be made popular again? Could we design a toy that wasn’t gender-specific? How might we unleash creativity, support learning, and combine tangible play with digital expression? Could LEGO become a medium for sharing stories and emotions?
Prototyping
We built a working prototype using Arduino and Processing, then tested it with children aged 7–12 at Bjørns International School in Copenhagen. The sessions confirmed that kids were excited to combine physical building with digital storytelling—highlighting LEGO’s potential as a bridge between hands-on play and creative technology.
Insights
Testing revealed several key insights. Children wanted to save and revisit their creations and enjoyed recognition from others through sharing. We learned to accommodate different play styles, supporting both structured and open-ended exploration. Tutorials proved essential, as kids sought guidance with every feature, and building instructions were valued across all skill levels. Finally, we discovered that children often show more patience than adults expect—willing to tinker and experiment when the experience rewards curiosity.