How Would Adults Play?

How will you play 10 years from now? Play is often associated with children, with playgrounds and toy sets, but what is the play of adults? For those who are fortunate, their work is play. But for most, work is work, and there needs to be more emphasis on real, natural play. But when did it become that only children are encouraged to play? There are a greater number of studies every year that solidify the importance of play for adults. Physically, emotionally, and socially, adults must play!

My goal is to inspire adults to engage in full-bodied everyday play. To help achieve that, I designed and fabricated 3 furniture pieces that activate different parts of the adult body to evoke play. By using furniture as a way to bring playful experiences into the home, play becomes increasingly accessible. Drawing inspiration from playgrounds and bringing those experiences to the home, these furniture pieces will combine a sense of nostalgia and a desire to explore. For many adults, the barrier to play comes from a lack of time and accessible play spaces. Playing is also a form of connecting, so I designed each piece to engage with multiple bodies simultaneously. By doing so, not only is the furniture’s owner inspired by its message, but also those with whom it is shared.

Mass-manufactured furniture is a legacy of function and form, comfort and durability. It serves people’s daily needs, living silently but importantly in the home. What I have created calls upon people to break the cycle and engage their bodies in what may be uncomfortable but new ways. It begins an exploration into the purpose of furniture and how it may be used as a powerful tool to change how we live. While I, as the designer, will have a vision and a mission for each piece, it is unlikely that I can predict how people will play with it. And even more so, how this changes over time. Over long periods of engagement with these furniture pieces, my aim is to inspire adults to see play not as a childish activity that they have to seek out but rather as a natural aspect of their everyday lives.

This project was made possible with support from the Frank-Ratchye Further Fund Microgrant #2024-048. Additional images can be found here.