Bricolage : aligning with climate action through playful participatory design in speculative scenarios

This work explores collaborative roleplaying interventions as a climate education tool, addressing the disconnect between actions and consequences of climate action. Participants assumed one of the roles of Architect, Collector, Engineer, and Explorer in a fictional scenario, engaging in teams to create personal, embodied experiences through speculative ideation and design-making. The team-based creation and trading mechanisms foster engagement for encouraging pro-environmental behaviors in a participatory public workshop format. Results suggest that the design process empowers participants to combat environmental problems actively. Overall, this research offers a novel approach to climate education, fostering empathy, instilling hope, and inspiring pro-environmental action through participatory play and making. © 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.