Luca Boscardin on Play as a Function in Toys, Cities, and Education

In an interview with designboom, Italian designer Luca Boscardin discusses his philosophy that play is a function in itself, not just for children but as a mindset for all ages. Boscardin, who studied architecture in Venice before moving to graphic design, creates open-ended objects like Archiville, a cardboard city with no instructions, and Animal Factory, a family of abstract animal structures produced by Magis. He collaborates with institutions including Palazzo Grassi, La Triennale, Arte Sella, and Museo Pecci. Boscardin argues that playful environments should not dictate how to play but invite interpretation, fostering creativity and social interaction. He extends this thinking to public space, advocating for cities designed around people rather than cars, citing Amsterdam, where he lived for fourteen years, as an example. He believes schools are where playful design could have the greatest impact, nurturing curiosity and different ways of learning. The interview is part of designboom's PLAY chapter, exploring pleasure-driven design.