Pop CoLab grew from a question I kept coming back to: what happens when adults have room to be curious, make things and connect without worrying about getting it “right”?
Great reads we highly recommend.
Books that shaped Pop CoLab
These books helped me put words to what I was seeing. I’m sharing them because they shaped how I think about play and the experiences we create at Pop CoLab.
Play — Dr. Stuart Brown with Christopher Vaughan
This is the book I’d hand to someone who asks, “Why does play matter for adults?” Dr. Brown explores the science of play and its connection to creativity, relationships and the way we respond to change.
It helped me see play as something we can make room for throughout our lives, including at work.
That idea sits at the heart of Pop CoLab: when people have a chance to play together, they can discover sides of themselves and each other that don’t always show up in a meeting.
Playful — Cas Holman with Lydia Denwort
Cas Holman brings a designer’s eye to a question I love: how do we make more room for play in everyday adult life? Her book explores curiosity, open-ended play and the freedom to try something without knowing exactly where it will lead.
That feels familiar at Pop CoLab. Sometimes the best part of an experience is watching someone loosen up, follow an idea and surprise themselves with what they make or say.
Find your way to play
We all experience play differently. Developed by Dr. Stuart Brown and the play science team at the National Institute for Play, these six play styles help us understand how we naturally connect, create and feel energized.
At Pop CoLab, we use the play styles developed by the National Institute for Play to design experiences that offer different ways to participate, helping everyone feel included while making room for each person’s unique way of playing.
The National Institute for Play (NIFPlay) is a global thought leader in the science of play, curating and interpreting research that reveals how play fundamentally shapes human flourishing. Founded by Dr. Stuart Brown, the Institute has revolutionized our understanding of play as a biological necessity, not a luxury.
Creators
You find joy in making, building and bringing ideas to life through art, stories, music, cooking, design or hands-on creation.
Explorers
Curiosity drives you. You love investigating ideas, trying unfamiliar experiences and discovering what might be around the next corner.
Competitor
Challenges energize you. You enjoy games, puzzles and opportunities to improve, test your abilities or work toward a win.
Organizer
You enjoy bringing structure to chaos. Sorting, planning, collecting, coordinating and connecting people can all feel like play.
Dreamers
Your imagination is your playground. You enjoy stories, fantasy, role-playing and becoming absorbed in other worlds and possibilities.
Movers
You experience play through your body. Dancing, hiking, climbing, sports and other physical activities help you feel energized and alive.
Take the Play Quiz
Why Pop CoLab
We know not every team connects the same way. Some people learn by doing. Some through conversation. Some through creativity, humour, movement, or challenge.
Our approach makes space for different personalities, different energy levels, and different ways of engaging, so more people can actually take part.
