Play is Our Most Important Tool for Innovation

Our design approach is fueled by insights from leading play experts, especially the ambitious Pedagogy of Play (PoP) from Harvard Graduate School of Education. The project identifies the three essential preconditions that stimulate playful learning: choice, wonder and delight. We operationalize these insights and translate them into designs of imaginative learning landscapes. 

These environments provide the users with options, so they gain ownership and make choices according to their needs. The landscapes stimulate curiosity and activate the senses of the users through tactile and alluring elements. And to spark delight, the designs offer appealing, aesthetic and inspiring spaces.

On top of the PoP findings, we have added a fourth element for the conditions for learning through play: the possibility to create. We believe a playful learning environment should offer lots of possibilities to draw, build, articulate, express and link knowledge in new ways.

One of the great challenges of childhood today is that children are subject to a lot of adult management. Sports, gaming and organized leisure activities take up more time than ever before, and this leaves children with less time on their own terms.

For children play is a primary language and their way to engage with the world. We need to cherish and promote play. Also, as part of the children’s’ learning journeys.

Their untamed curiosity and limitless way of thinking need to be stimulated daily by allowing them playful habitats.

Embracing play is also meaningful for grownups. Play involves minds-on thinking and iterative processes. It brings joy and fresh perspectives and puts us in motion.

The power of play can take us to unexpected places, lead to innovation and an abundance of learning experiences. We are motivated and empowered when we engage in playful activities.

That is why we design for play.