At Scott Brownrigg, we believe imagination is more than a creative skill - it’s a catalyst for change. That belief shaped the start of our recent Christmas celebrations, when colleagues from across our UK studios came together for an imagination-led workshop with Rob Hopkins, author of From What If to What Next and founder of the Transition movement.

Led by Rob himself, the session invited us to step away from constraints and rediscover imagination as a practical tool for shaping better futures.

Using the What If…? approach, teams explored bold, hopeful questions about architecture, materials and the role our profession plays in responding to global challenges. The conversations were open, optimistic and energising - fuelled by a shared commitment to curiosity and possibility.

A central principle of the workshop was shifting from “Yes, but…” to “Yes, and…”. This small change in language had a big impact, encouraging ideas to build rather than stall, and helping teams explore possibilities without rushing to limitations.

Questions ranged from What if our client was the environment? to What if we built for other species? and What if materials were always sourced locally? These weren’t questions looking for quick answers. They were prompts designed to challenge assumptions and open up new ways of thinking.

For us, the session was a reminder that architects are not just responders to briefs - we are active shapers of the world around us. The environments we design affect people, communities, ecosystems and future generations. With that influence comes both responsibility and opportunity.

The ideas sparked during the workshop will continue to inform conversations across the practice, particularly around material choices, sustainability and innovation. By holding space for imagination, we create the conditions for meaningful change - and for design that responds to the needs of people and planet alike.