Take time to play
FANCY a side table that doubles as a Snakes & Ladders game board? Or how about a wooden stool that turns into a canvas to harness your creativity?
These ideas were presented at the recent launch of the Ikea Make Room for Play campaign, which celebrates the importance of play in everyday life. Through the campaign, the Swedish home furnishing brand wants to highlight the importance of play and encourage Malaysians to re-evaluate how and where they play.
This initiative was sparked by findings from the latest Ikea Play Report, which explores the importance of play in modern day life and how we will play in the future.
“At Ikea, we take play seriously because it is critical for a better everyday life. We want to encourage all Malaysians to play more at home, which is a space for families to connect and have fun together. When people embrace a playful mindset, chores become easier and they can unwind from the stresses of everyday life,” said Gerard Jensen, deputy retail manager, Ikea Malaysia, at the launch.
“The need to play remains relevant despite the changing modern life. If fact, play may become more important as its benefits to mental, physical and social health becomes more tangible and measured,” he added.
The Ikea Play Report highlights several trends that will influence how play is evolving, specifically in the next 10 years.
Among them are that play will become multi-sensory with technological advancements such as virtual reality (VR) and wearable technology enabling immersive play experiences.
The second trend is that as the pace of life becomes faster, play will permeate all aspects of people’s lives, including the workplace.
Thirdly, as technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, more people will turn back to embracing nostalgic games from their childhood.
“The insights in the report help in the development of new products and solutions across the home. We are continuously learning, developing and exploring new ways to help people to improve life at home and have fun while doing it,” added Jensen.
To find out more, visit Ikea.my. – Wong Li Za