Helping children learn better through Lego

"It was only then that I realized why children are so fixated with Lego-it allows them to discover the infinite possibilities hidden in the blocks," she said.

Her fascination with Lego led her to start the "Brick by Brick" series in 2006. The event encourages both children and adults to use Lego bricks to express what they think of their home city.

Throughout the past decade, Gluckman has toured many Chinese cities including Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai and Hong Kong to hold "Brick by Brick" events, which are always free and open to the public. Each event features a unique theme that aims to get children to think critically about societal matters.

Gluckman's favorite event was the "Brick by Brick-Landscape Society", which concluded with the creation of a mandala that measured 225 square meters and was comprised of two million Lego blocks. Nearly 1,600 people, half of whom were children, participated in the month-long building process.

"I prefer collective pieces of work as they are more powerful," said the 40-year-old, who was born in Beijing but was educated in the United States after moving there in her teens.

"I'm more like an activist. I promote learning through play by organizing such public events, and the play experience that I design is eventually aimed at empowering the participants."