Inspiring, stimulating, bold, playful... this is how the edition of Project Playground was described in 2020. Beautiful words and a great goal for the new edition on 29 August 2023! Not to draw attention to COVID-proof events, but to new societal challenges arising from the pandemic. Which ones are and how we made something cool out of that? Read it below!
Project Playground 2.0: Why?
During the 1st edition of Project Playground, between two lockdowns, we wanted to show what could be done in the event world. Not only by using masks or plastic splash screens, but by thinking out-of-the-box. With for example XL barring and serving with rods. Together we came up with the craziest, most beautiful things and achieved our goal: to inspire people back in real life. Now, 3 years later, the aftermath of COVID constantly confronts us with changes. Global challenges and opportunities that require the right decisions. We saw three main themes where we can make a difference.
The 3 themes:
Kaleidoscope
Embracing diversity and inclusion. There is a need for inclusiveness and diversity. Enjoy the beautiful things the world has to offer: Open minded, without prejudice.
Planet Playtime
Championing sustainability. The climate crisis continues undisturbed. We must now make sustainable choices, big and small, before it is too late.
Fantastic Unknown
Highlighting technology and innovation. The rapid development of technology brings both potential and fear. How do we use this in addition to our human skills?
The Maze of 23 choices
The event industry can be an influential factor in these issues. By immersing people in an inspiring environment, we create an indelible experience that can transform people. We did that with our partners in Project Playground: We offered our guests a unique experience of the challenges of the past, the questions of today... and the choices for tomorrow!
Implementation
Huge societal dilemmas... how to make them tangible in a creative event? Let that be a challenge that we enjoy very much. Brainstorming, drawing, calculating and building... So we came to the next program.
The programme shall:
14:30 – 15:15 – Ready to play? Arrival and entry
14:30 – 15:45 – Discover the Maze of choices
15:15 – 16:00 – The Gathering
16:00 – 18:00 – Learn by Playing, inspirational sessions
18:00 – 20:00 – The Playground, bites, drinks and entertainment
Big issues fixed in small experiences...
At various stages of Project Playground, guests were confronted with the theme features, through choices they made themselves. Pull a card, open a door, follow your instincts... It brought them to a new experience. Catering, acts, styling and audiovisual elements came together in more 30 creations. We like to explain some of them!
Be a Lady
The powerful film "Be a Lady They Said ", commissioned by Girls Girls Magazine, played in this little maze. Every day, women face expectations, criticism, assumptions and rules: Nothing's good. Whether you're the woman who has to deal with this every day or the man who might maintain this culture... Through the powerful words of Cynthia Nixon combined with the many mirrors in the maze, the guests confronted themselves. Curious? Watch the video here.
All my favorite colours
It's all so fluffy! Forget the world and come to yourself. Hug the wall, comb the walls, water the fluffy plants. This setting was almost therapeutic and guests felt reborn after leaving space.
Boiling room: melting ice
In this visual translation of global warming, guests were confronted with the climate crisis. Both the melting ice blocks and the gauntlet become artists' questions; Can we still turn the tide?
I see you
We're getting more digital and taking our iPad, laptop and phone everywhere. But is this okay? Are we not living through these developments? Isn't our lives being followed by these devices? You may think you have nothing to hide, but is it? The downside of technology became lifelike in this goosebump-bumping experience.
Dirty Dishes
Cooking leftovers... dirty? It just seems... We can reduce the waste heap considerably by dealing better with food. Waste isn't waste until we wash it! In this experience, guests were confronted with our negative image of leftover food: The delicious desserts came as waste over the counter of the dirty sink kitchen.
Immerse in an environment? That's how you do it!
Masks
By wearing an abstract mask to each guest, they became anonymous and neutral. Free to play and discover, apart from acquaintances to move safely.
Lost
A mess of unique spaces in the Sugar Factory and constantly new choices that had to be made resulted in a flood of new impressions.
Sensory overload
Feel, taste, smell, see... All senses were stimulated and guests were encouraged to participate actively.
Stopover: catch up and drink
After wandering around for a while and relying on their own curiosity, the guests were allowed
Take off their masks. During The Gathering, the guests discussed their experiences. No one has walked the same path through the maze, so that gave enough talk and inspiration to the event industry! And maybe a little FOMO for the things the guests missed.
The Gathering: a dysteptic drink
An easy transition from the Maze, because... the guests still had to do everything by themselves! In a dystopian future, technology replaces the tasks of people, even on a drink. The DJ Booth turns automatically, the sushi band serves the food and the robots clean it up.
Inspiration sessions with talking speakers
After a tangle of experiences and a brief moment to let it settle, it followed
text and explanation. In the form of famous speakers like Jan Trendman, Mama Queen and Katja Gruijters. They inspired the guests on the different themes and gave new insights from their field of expertise. Mama Queen (at Barbie Bar) told about her unique life and shared Katja Gruijter's knowledge about the future of (sustainable) Food Design.
The photos on this page are made by Tim van Etten and Floris Heuer. Admire more photos of Project Playground? Then check this website.
