Vanessa Namseang

Innovation as Play: A Case Study

This paper explores how playful methodologies—such as gamestorming, game jams, designathons, and hackathons—foster creativity, empathy, and collaboration in innovation practices. Using my co-op Innovation Challenge as a case study, it investigates how structured play can be used as a serious tool for ideation, problem-solving, and team-building within corporate and design environments. By reframing innovation as a form of creative play, the paper argues for integrating more playful approaches into organizational processes to unlock fresh thinking and inclusive participation.

“As someone who has worked at the intersection of design, innovation, and community-building, I’ve often seen how creativity is stifled by rigid structures and fear of failure. This project was important to me because it allowed me to reflect on my own experiences organizing design sprints, hackathons, and collaborative workshops—and recognize that the most powerful ideas often emerge when people feel safe to play. I wanted to explore how playfulness, often dismissed as unserious, can actually be a catalyst for real innovation. Through this paper, I hope to advocate for more inclusive, experimental, and joyful approaches to problem-solving in both educational and professional environments.”