Artist’s Talk with Cas Holman: Radical Play

Over the last century, play has continuously been relegated to the realms of children or the frivolous. Why for so long have social norms taught us to strive to be rational, civilized, and to control ourselves? What is it about play that is disconcerting?

On Tuesday, April 22, at 6:00 PM, we invite you to a lecture by renowned American designer Cas Holman, an expert in toy design and tools for intergenerational play. In the talk Cas Holman will use examples from her work to illustrate play as an act of rebellion—a joyous method for learning, expressing oneself, forming empathetic connections, pushing boundaries, and reshaping our world.

The lecture serves as a public introduction to the two-day masterclass, taking place at Center Rog on April 23 and 24.

About the speaker:

Cas Holman is the founder and chief designer of the toy company Heroes Will Rise and a former Professor of Industrial Design at Rhode Island School of Design. Cas travels the globe speaking about early education, 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 more.

Some of her designs include toys like Rigamajig and structures at the Highline in New York and the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, New Jersey. She lives in New York City and designs from her studio in Brooklyn. Her philosophy and approach to designing for play was recently featured in the award-winning documentary series Abstract: The Art of Design on Netflix. Cas’s book Playful: How Play Shifts Our Thinking, Inspires Connection, and Sparks Creativity will be released in October 2025, published by Avery, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

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On the photo: Cas Holman with young people and Rigamajig (photo credit: Jason Greene, Cas Holman archive)