Gamification and architectural creativity: a preparatory workshop with LEGO and AI

Abstract

This article analyzes the Creative Forms propedeutic workshop, a four-hour session conducted with 20 prospective architecture students at the Universidad de San Martín de Porres – Northern Campus. The aim was to explore how the integration of ludic dynamics (LEGO blocks) and emerging technologies (artificial intelligence rendering) can foster the teaching-learning process during the early stages of architectural education. A qualitative, exploratory-descriptive methodology was applied, including direct observation, photographic records, and brief interviews. Findings reveal that the use of familiar materials reduces initial anxiety, encourages experimentation, and stimulates creativity, while artificial intelligence enhances representational capacity and raises reflections on authorship and digital ethics. The discussion confirms the relevance of gamification as a pedagogical strategy and highlights the novelty of applying it in a propedeutic context. It is concluded that short experiences of this kind not only motivate participants but also open new perspectives for architectural education in Latin America.