Leveraging Lego Serious Play ® in Examining Practitioner Perspectives of Shared Spaces

Abstract

Practitioner engagement methods are essential for understanding diverse perspectives and providing opportunities to develop a unified strategic approach to contentious transport planning issues, such as shared spaces. These are road infrastructure designs that minimize the separation between travel modes and equalize the priority across all the modes. This study investigates the design and implementation of a novel engagement methodology, Lego Serious Play^® (LSP), to discuss the implementation of shared space solutions in practice while also enhancing participant experience. A case study of practitioners in New South Wales, Australia was conducted to identify opportunities, challenges, and the future potential of applying the methodology. Outcomes from the workshops revealed that the LSP methodology enabled participants to articulate their views, debate various ideas, and compromise. Shared spaces emerged as a key strategy for achieving place-based outcomes, particularly through a zone-based implementation approach in which design elements are gradually introduced across a road network to help users adapt to the changing environment. Key aspects and metrics were identified, shaping future guidance for shared spaces design and assessment. The storytelling component of the LSP technique was particularly effective in fostering discussion and achieving consensus. The findings suggest that the LSP methodology holds potential for application in other engineering and design disciplines, offering a novel approach to engagement and collaborative problem-solving.