international design competition: playable 2010

0: playable 2010/ defined
1: why?/ healthy + happy kids
2: who?/ professionals, students, children + sponsors
3: what?/ competition categories
4: where?/ what we know so far
5: when?/ competition timeline
6: how?/ change levers to make a difference
7: what next?/ outcomes
8: contact

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international design competition: playable 2010 (continued)

0: playable 2010

International Design Competition: Playable 2010 invites designers from around the world to create equipment and spaces that will give playgrounds a sense of wonder and place that is strong enough to entice children outdoors to play.

1: why?

Children's health is suffering because the appeal of sitting in front of an electronic screen is winning out over getting outside to play. Symptoms of conditions such as childhood obesity, diabetes, ADHD, and vitamin D deficiencies (and many others) are lessened by regular outdoor play. The problem is that many playgrounds are without challenges and look the same as every other playground and so a child’s excitement is soon lost. Another problem is that manufactured playgrounds can be too expensive for some communities so their children do without.

2: who?

Georgia Tech and the Atlanta Taskforce on Play (ATOP) are partnering to launch the competition in a belief that the talent is out there to find the answers to the challenges presented. There will be categories for professionals, students, and children. We are presently looking for sponsors and supporters. ATOP is a 501(C)3 through our fiscal partnership with Park Pride.

3: what?

The tentative categories in the competition are:
a.) Playable Art
b.) Playable Sites
c..) Playable D-I-Y Spaces
d.) Playable Kids (winning school gets an Imagination Playground in a Box)

The competition will culminate in a conference on designing for play at Georgia Tech. The winners of the competition will be announced at that time. The winning and semi-finalist designs will be on exhibit at Georgia Tech and will then travel to other sites.

4: where?

The winning site-specific playgrounds will be built at the following sites:
a. Two (2) winning playspaces built on Atlanta’s Beltline
b. One (1) winning playspace built in Berkeley, CA
c. One (1) winning playspace built at Camp Twin Lakes at Will-o-Way (a camp for sick children) outside of Atlanta

5: when?

January 1, 2010 -- competition launches
February 16 -------- deadline for children’s entries
March 10-13 ------- children’s work on exhibit at the international conference for
The Association for the Study of Play (TASP) and The American
Association for the Child’s Right to Play (IPA/USA).
March 13 ------------ children’s prize announced at conference and online
September 15 ------ tentative date for deadline for entries
November 3-4 ----- tentative date for announcing winners; conference on
designing for play

6: how?

A report from McKinsey & Co. (“And the Winner Is…” 2009) states that prizes such as this competition achieve the changes sought in as many as seven different ways: by identifying excellence, influencing public perception, focusing communities on specific problems, mobilizing new talent, strengthening problem-solving communities, educating individuals, and mobilizing capital. Utilizing these change levers could ultimately lead to a change for the better in our children’s health.

7: what’s next?

Details on the competition and a live website will be available by December 31, 2009.

8: contact

For information on sponsoring the competition and/or prizes please contact:
Cynthia Gentry
Founding Director
Atlanta Taskforce on Play (ATOP)
cynthia (at) PlayAtlanta.org