Designing learning through play and interaction

In my work at LEGO Education, I designed learning experiences informed by principles from game design — particularly an understanding of player types and intrinsic motivation.

Rather than viewing play as a superficial layer, the work explored how different motivational drivers shape how people engage with learning. Principles often used to describe player behavior — such as exploration, mastery, social interaction or achievement — were translated into learning design to accommodate different ways people are motivated to participate, reflect and persist.

The learning experiences were designed to offer multiple points of entry, allowing learners to engage in ways that aligned with their underlying motivations. Interaction, feedback and choice were used deliberately to support agency and sustained engagement, rather than one-size-fits-all learning paths.

Across projects, the focus was on designing learning that respected individual differences in motivation, while still supporting shared learning goals. Play and interaction were used as tools to create meaningful, motivating learning experiences grounded in real-world practice.

What this shows

• A deep understanding of motivation as a foundation for learning design

• Ability to translate game design principles into learning contexts

• Experience designing learning for different motivational drivers, not just learning styles

• A learner-centered approach focused on agency, engagement and meaning