Lecture + Workshop Cas Holman: Designing for Play
Join designer, educator, and play expert Cas Holman for a lecture discussing her book Playful: How Play Shifts Our Thinking, Inspires Connection, and Sparks Creativity, co-authored with science journalist Lydia Denworth. Holman will share key insights from the book, reflect on her journey from designing toys for children to championing play for adults, and explore how a more playful approach can transform the way we think, work, and connect with one another.
Holman will also lead a "Play Sprint" workshop in which students will explore play design, game invention, playtesting, hacking and changing the game, play patterns, play value, and play types. Bring your playful, agile selves to this collaborative workshop designed to make choices, try out ideas, brainstorm and share, and to reflect collectively!
Lecture: Wednesday, March 4 | 4:00 p.m. | Biagi Forum (GDB 111)
Workshop: Thursday, March 5 | 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. | GDB Clearing
Cas Holman is the founder and chief designer of the toy company Heroes Will Rise and a former professor of Industrial Design at RISD. Cas travels the globe speaking about playful learning, the design process, and the value of play in all aspects of life. She has shared her perspective in workshops and seminars with teams at Google, Nike, LEGO Foundation, Disney Imagineering, and art museums around the world. Some of her designs include toys like Rigamajig and Geemo, as well as play experiences at the High Line and the Liberty Science Center. Cas is author of Playful: How Play Shifts Our Thinking, Inspires Connection, and Sparks Creativity (October 2025, Avery, an imprint of Penguin Random House) with science writer Lydia Denworth about the importance of free play for adults. Cas lives in Brooklyn and designs from her studio in the Catskills, New York.