Three Manchester design studios are hosting the PLAYHOUSE Competition jointly to design something that will enable people to play at home during lockdown.
Play is an essential part of all our lives, whether child or adult. The Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has left many of us spending extended periods of time at home in lockdown, restricting the opportunity to play in ways that we are used to. The competition is free to enter and open to creatives from all disciplines both in the UK and abroad. Submissions can be from an individual or a team effort.
A selection of the best submissions showcased on social media, in addition sold as prints or collated into a book for charity.
The design could make an existing everyday activity playful, it could recreate some form of existing outdoor play inside the house, create a whole new type of game, or do something entirely different to make play.
The design could be for adults or children, and enable a person to play alone, or with others. It should only use objects commonly found in the house, garden or shed in its construction or as props. The design only needs to hypothetically work. Humour, whimsy and innovation are all encouraged!
Submit one or two A3 sheets (landscape or portrait) explaining the design. Sheets should show an image or set of images of the design in use. This could be an illustration, a 2D/3D technical drawing, a photo of a model, an animation or anything in between.
Consider adding annotations, dimensions, construction information, or zooming in on parts of the idea to help others understand how it might work. The more detail, the better.
First wave of submissions by 6pm Friday 24th April 2020 to be featured in May. Second wave by 6pm Friday 22nd May 2020 to be featured in June.
A selection of the best submissions will be showcased on the dedicated social media pages. The aim is to collate these designs into a book or individual prints to be sold at the end of the lockdown period, with all profits going to The National Emergencies Trust.
Playhouse Competition is a collaboration from Manchester design studios: Playground, Ben Clark Design and Barney Ibbotson Illustration.