Event Series

Serious Play

Serious Play is an event that convenes speakers from design, science, technology, and creative fields. The 2008 edition featured a diverse lineup including Tim Brown, Executive Chair of IDEO and author of "Change by Design", Paula Scher from Pentagram, and Stuart Brown, a play researcher focused on human development. Additional speakers included Philip Rosedale, founder of High Fidelity and virtual world pioneer, Nobel Laureate physicist George Smoot, John Maeda from Microsoft's design and AI division, humorist Bruce McCall, and Charles Elachi. The speaker composition suggests the event explores intersections between play, design, technology, and scientific discovery.

1edition
8speakers
8talks
See the full lineup
The full record

Everyone who has spoken at Serious Play

8 speakers.

From the stage

Sessions worth replaying

The sessions from this edition we found on video.

Session

What is retro-futurism?

Bruce McCall
Session

Life in Second Life

Philip Rosedale
Session

Play is more than just fun

Stuart Brown
Session

The design of the universe

George Smoot
Session

Tales of creativity and play

Tim Brown
Session

The story behind the Mars Rovers

Charles Elachi
Session

Great design is serious, not solemn

Paula Scher

Industries

Consumer Technology1
Corporate Training & L&D1
Creator Economy1
Enterprise Software1
Gaming & Entertainment1
Higher Education1
Marketing & Advertising Agencies1
Social Media & Platforms1

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