The State Of Play with Suzanne Quinn
Suzanne Quinn is a researcher, lecturer, author, and the manager of KOMPAN’s Play Institute. In these podcast episodes, we discussed the research behind play and how that research helps inform us on what works in outdoor spaces, how we can better integrate inclusivity into play, and some of the upcoming trends Suzanne foresees based on her research.
As the manager of KOMPAN’s Play Institute, much of Suzanne’s work centers around research on children, with a focus on play. She transitioned to KOMPAN after being in the university space and spends much of her time conducting research, and tutoring landscape architects and other professionals based on her findings.
Some interesting insights she highlighted were the fact that, while the pandemic challenged her to re-think how she approached her research, it emphasized the importance of outdoor play spaces, especially when playgrounds provided opportunities for socially distanced play. She mentioned a few products, such as KOMPAN’s Supernova and the Octa Net, which are two playground features that allow children to play and interact with one another while still maintaining safe distances from one another. These findings further emphasized the need for play spaces in outdoor environments, and got her thinking about how KOMPAN as a manufacturer can continue to make their products better and more accessible to those who use them.
When deciding what works in outdoor spaces, Suzanne noted that multiple factors need to be considered. Product testing is essential to ensure that products are safe and will appeal to children and their needs. A lot of research is done once products have been installed as well, as this helps to inform researchers on how long kids are willing to play on certain types of equipment. The goal of this post-occupancy research is to identify how to enhance environments to encourage children to move their bodies while using tactile skills, such as in splash pads.
Inclusivity is also a key factor in Suzanne’s research, as it’s important that play spaces and outdoor recreation spaces are equitable and barrier-free. She highlights the importance of selecting universally designed pieces that will get lots of mileage, such as carousel spinners and basket swings that can appeal to children of all ages and abilities. She also emphasizes the importance of being proactive and having an awareness of what people might need in specific environments to ensure that a space can be universally enjoyed.
When asked about the work she’s most proud of regarding her work with KOMPAN, Suzanne notes that seeing KOMPAN playgrounds and products in the wild is exciting! She emphasized that this work is a group effort, so getting to witness collective wins is very rewarding. She places a lot of focus on ensuring that her research works to better products, which is bolstered by KOMPAN’s White Papers. They are essentially informative guides that cover a wide range of topics, including:
- Inclusive play
- Sensory play
- Language development
- Physical activity
These White Papers are intended to be accessible and digestible, to help bring her research and findings to the masses.
When asked about any upcoming playground trends that she sees to be popular in the future, she highlighted that nature play is rising in popularity. She predicts seeing an increase in play structures that focus on wood and ropes, with light touches to steel that will still allow users to see and interact with the environment around them.
At the end of the day, Suzanne emphasized that there is a place for every kind of playground. What is important is working with the client and understanding their needs, which will help result in a play structure that the entire community will be excited about and use for years into the future.
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