The Playhouse

ArtEZ University of the Arts

2024

“Ideas worth connecting!”

Ideas often emerge from making connections—those “a-ha!” moments when seemingly unrelated thoughts converge, revealing solutions that were right under our noses all along. These moments bring a sense of joy and excitement, emphasizing that ideas are more valuable when connected rather than simply spread. The Playhouse is part of ongoing research on the nature of play. It aims to explore various forms and acts of play and games as embodied research with real-life applications. Transforming everyday life into a game inspires joy and unleashes inner creativity.

Communication happens through many tools: a pencil to draw a diagram, an electronic device to display an image, or a finger to point out something. All of these are communication objects. What makes games an effective tool for design thinking is that they shift focus from thinking to playing, allowing the process to be more pure and authentic.

The game’s objective is to mind-map different ideas by creating connections. Each “mission” calls for a design thinking solution, and the solution is entirely up to the players. Anything is possible! There are no rules about what can be added to the Idea Connectors—it could be a sketch, an idea, a quote, a symbol, or anything imaginable. The key is to link ideas with those of the players next to you. The game ends when the four (or two) players agree on the final solution. One of the Golden Idea connectors is placed in the very middle.