Interview: Cas Holman on play as a radical force

For Holman, play is not just valuable – it is radical. In a society that prioritises speed, output and measurable results, play represents a break with dominant norms. It resists purpose, productivity and control. Choosing to engage in something “pointless or frivolous”, she argues, becomes a quiet form of resistance – and a necessary one. ”Any field that we assume is too serious for play, she says, “probably needs play the most.”

This idea of play as a radical force is closely tied to how it is understood and practised. Holman emphasises open-ended, self-directed play – play without a fixed goal or outcome. Unlike structured activities such as sports or video games, this kind of play allows for exploration, uncertainty and imagination. It is precisely this lack of predefined purpose that gives it transformative potential.

She highlights Kolding School of Design’s Design for Play Master’s programme as a rare and important example of how play is being taken seriously as a field in its own right. The programme’s research base – and particularly its PhD track – stands out. Rather than focusing solely on play as behaviour, it investigates how play can be designed. For Holman, this marks a shift from having to justify play to recognising it as legitimate knowledge.

A key distinction, she notes, lies in how children and adults relate to play. While children instinctively engage in it, adults often need to relearn how – and even give themselves permission. This loss of playfulness, she suggests, reflects broader societal expectations that leave little room for exploration without purpose.

Holman also points to the growing impact of the programme’s graduates, who bring an understanding of play into fields ranging from business to the built environment. As this perspective spreads, it has the potential to challenge existing norms – not only in how we design, but in how we define work, value and even adulthood itself.

If the first decade of Play Design has been about proving its legitimacy, Holman suggests the next will be about demonstrating its impact. As awareness grows, play may begin to influence areas where it has traditionally been overlooked – from education to healthcare.

Her message is clear: play is not an optional extra, but a radical and powerful lens through which to understand – and design for – human life.