Designing for Playful Rebellion with Cas Holman, Founder of Rigamajig and Author of Playful
Designing for Playful Rebellion
How designing for free play helps us know ourselves and each other
Cas Holman will talk about her work designing for others to design--with projects ranging from toys to playgrounds to most recently her book, Playful, about why adults need free play.
Why should designers have all the fun? In open-ended materials, we let people (not just children!) participate in the joy of creation. They bring themselves to the space or exhibit or objects, and it brings something out in them—play. In this talk Cas will use examples from her work to illustrate play as an act of rebellion and a joyous method for learning, expressing oneself, forming empathetic connections, pushing boundaries, and reshaping our world.
“Play is how we learn to be human, how we learn who we are, how we learn to fail, communicate, love, fight, rebel, desire, build, and survive. At its best, play is life-affirming, soul-sustaining, and mind-expanding.” -from Playful
Cas Holman: Design for Play
Abstract: The Art of Design: Season 2, Episode 4
About our Speaker
Cas Holman is the founder and chief designer of the toy company Heroes Will Rise and a former professor of Industrial Design at RISD. Cas travels the globe speaking about playful learning, the design process, and the value of play in all aspects of life. She has shared her perspective in workshops and seminars with teams at Google, Nike, LEGO Foundation, Disney Imagineering, and art museums around the world. Some of her designs include toys like Rigamajig and Geemo, as well as play experiences at the High Line and the Liberty Science Center. Playful: How Play Shifts Our Thinking, Inspires Connection, and Sparks Creativity by Cas Holman with Lydia Denworth recently published this October 2025. Cas lives in Brooklyn and designs from her studio in the Catskills, New York.
Cas and Rigamajig
Queens Museum: Prototyping Play
About Futurespaces
Futurespaces delves into contemporary experience design, with a specific focus on how innovations in design and technology can meaningfully enhance human connection.
Founded and led by Josh Goldblum (Bluecadet) Futurespaces offers live webinars and in-person tours that provide valuable insights into the creative process of creating contemporary experiences.