Girl drawing inside Play Planetarium

Playgrounds are interactive environments

Children are excitable by nature. They are innately full of enthusiasm and curiosity about their surroundings: the whole world is an adventure. A well-designed playground gives children endless opportunities to use their imagination and also appeals to parents. Read the blog by Amy Sergison!

Published: 30 March 2023, edited: 15 September 2023
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Designing playgrounds with children's imagination in mind: Architect Amy Sergison shares her inspiration

“Whenever I am designing a new playground, I try to look at things from a child’s perspective. I want to enliven children’s curiosity by introducing fun shapes, patterns, and textures. Adults often think that children want something tangible and realistic, but the most important prerequisite for playing is leaving enough room for imagination. You can replace a staircase, for example, with just about anything, and children will find a way to climb it”, says playground equipment designer and Creative Director of Play, Architect Amy Sergison.

Children learn quickly through play, which is important to remember when designing playground equipment. Little details, such as a number on each step or the colours of the rainbow on the walls of equipment, can turn playgrounds into fun learning environments.

“I take inspiration from everything around me – the natural environment, geometric shapes, and art – anything that can stimulate children’s imagination. When a child sees a statue in a park, they want to climb on top of it. Children are curious about their environment and want to explore different kinds of objects. I also love watching my own children study the world around them and interact with their surroundings.”

Play Planetarium is a unique play and learning environment

Play Planetarium is a unique play and learning environment

Designs that appeal to all kinds of users

As society changes, parents are less and less likely to let their children play unsupervised, which is why playgrounds also need to cater to grown-ups’ needs.

“Playgrounds need to be exciting enough for children but still practical for adults. Parents want to be able to see their children while they play, even when the children themselves think that they are hiding. I always think about the big picture when I design, and the needs of all users. Little details, such as providing shade on sunny days and shelter on rainy ones, can make a big difference from a parent’s perspective.”

In an ideal world, playing is not just a prerogative of children. A well-designed playground gets grown-ups off the bench to take part in children’s games as well.

“There is no shame in grown-ups also getting involved – playing is actually good for you. In the words of George Bernard Shaw, “we don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing”.

"There is no shame in grown-ups also getting involved - playing is actually good for you." - Amy Sergison

The future lies in light and playful urban environments

Sergison would like to see playing and playfulness incorporated more into city planning in the future. Doing so would benefit both children and their parents. “When we think about children playing, we often think about a park. However, there are a lot of children who only ever get to play in an urban environment. It is not purpose-built play areas that we need in the future, but playful cities. Shopping centers, for example, are not just places for shopping, but for spending time in general.”

Another growing trend in the world of play involves utilising the interactive qualities of light.

“Light is a playful and interactive element: children love triggering lights by running past a sensor or pressing buttons. Using light and lighting for a playful effect will be a big thing in the future.”

Karingal Hub Happy Camp playground during the night

Karingal Hub Happy Camp playground during the night

Amy Sergison, Architect, Playground equipment designer, and Creative Director of Play.
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Amy Sergison

Ame Sergison is an award-winning architect, playground equipment designer and Creative Director. Sergison's passion for design extends beyond architecture to playgrounds and play spaces. She believes children are curious about their environment and want to explore different kinds of objects.

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