Life Play Journeys 

Life Play Journeys is a playful method that uses personal memories of play to identify shared play characteristics. Through collaborative mapping and discussion, participants explore what makes play memorable and use these insights to inspire the development of new play concepts.

Begin by preparing journey templates and supplementary materials such as pictures, illustrations or tangible materials. In groups of 3–4, participants individually map memorable play experiences from their own lives for 30 minutes, using words, sketches, materials or other visual elements.

In small groups, each participant presents one or two selected experiences. The other group members listen and identify characteristics that seem important to the experiences, writing keywords as they listen. Allow 30 minutes for this discussion.

Gather the keywords from all groups and create a shared wall cloud in plenary. Use 30 minutes to collect and visualise the play characteristics identified across the group.

Use the wall cloud as a shared reference point when analysing and understanding play experiences early in a project, or when developing initial ideas to stimulate imagination and inspire new play concepts.

The method helps participants explore what characterises memorable play experiences by drawing on personal memories and shared reflection. 

By identifying recurring play characteristics across multiple experiences, it creates a foundation for analysing play and generating inspiration for new play concepts.

The method has been used in MA Play Design courses, conferences and continuing education activities. Participants mapped personal play experiences and discussed them in groups to identify recurring characteristics of play. These shared mappings were subsequently used to support analysis of play experiences and inspire the development of new concepts and ideas.