Play belongs
in more places
Unruly Play is our archive of references from the artists, designers and communities we admire: play in unlikely places, games about unusual things, and unexpected encounters. Participatory art, games, urban interventions, performances, services.
Each work does this differently, but they share something similar: someone ends up in a relationship that wasn't there before, with a stranger, a system, a space, their own assumptions. Over three days, we'll put the archive in the backdrop and deep dive into a process that expand what play can be and what it can open up.
You'll come out knowing what unruly play can be, how an archive works as a creative practice, and how to activate references instead of just consuming them. We pay attention to the patterns, mechanics and scripted provocations that can inspire your own practice.
The workshop closes with an Unruly Session on Thursday evening — half play gathering inspired by our archive, half “play testing” where students can showcase their work. It's an ongoing series, and this time, you're in it.
The works
We are bringing this to iArts as an intensive workshop where over three days, you'll use the archive as a reference library and as a method, and build your own unruly play work.
It's mandatory for year 2. But this time, we're also opening a few spots to other students and alumni, to mix the room and keep the whole thing hands-on.
Want in?
Schedule
September 7–10, 2026
- Monday— self-study, prep on an assignment students & participants will receive beforehand
- Tuesday to Thursday — 10am to 4pm
- Thursday — 7pm to 9pm, the Unruly Session (open to the public)
We close with an Unruly Session, open to the public, on Thursday evening in Maastricht. Invite link coming soon.
About us
Imagination of Things is a promiscuously curious experience design practice. Based in Amsterdam but often hanging out in London, New York, and São Paulo. We work with brands, institutions, and teams, turning play into a method for encounter, inquiry, and collective imagination.
The Unruly Play workshop is facilitated by Vitor Freire, creative director, and Clara Siliprandi, art historian, photographer and artistic producer.