There's a brand-new playground installation in West Harlem in New York and Fly Away Isles was brought to life by contemporary artist Hebru Brantley. The playground is located just outside of the site for youth development nonprofit The Brotherhood Sister Sol (BroSis), whose kids were consulted to design the look of their dream playground.
Using LEGO bricks, the kids participating in the project expressed their vision for a playspace that included a rocket lifting into the clouds, volcano-inspired pyramids and stepping stones between islands. The whimsical, colorful and optimistic playground sets itself apart from conventional play structures and the interactive work of art brings playtime to underprivileged areas "and areas where play is missing" according to LEGO.
Child-Created Playgrounds
LEGO's Fly Away Isles Was Guided by the Minds of Kids
Trend Themes
1. Child-led Playground Design - The trend of involving children in the design process of playgrounds is on the rise, creating opportunities for disruptive innovation in child-centered play equipment and installations.
2. Interactive Artwork for Play - Installations like Fly Away Isles demonstrate the trend towards combining play equipment with aesthetic art pieces, paving the way for the creation of more interactive playgrounds that engage both children and adults.
3. Whimsical and Unconventional Play Structures - As seen in Fly Away Isles, the trend is moving towards unconventional and imaginative play equipment that stands out from traditional playground equipment. This presents opportunities for companies to create innovative and unique structures that promote imaginative play.
Industry Implications
1. Playground Equipment Manufacturing - Companies should explore opportunities to create next-gen playground equipment that are child-led, interactive and unconventional like Fly Away Isles.
2. Art Installations - The trend of combining play equipment with art installations can create opportunities for companies in the art industry to expand into the playground market.
3. Nonprofit Youth Development - The rise of child-led playground design presents opportunities for organizations and non-profits to partner with communities and manufacturers to create interactive and engaging play spaces for children.