What if play is the missing link in your creative process?

Before there was pressure, there was wonder. Because the world doesn’t need more "A-type performers"

Hello and welcome! In this first newsletter I’m shining some light on my own experiences and struggles in finding play; play personalities you might want to get familiar with and identify yourself; and some actionable tips on where to start if you’d like to introduce more play into your life

I recently had a group mentorship session with a few brilliant, high-achieving women—total A-types. None of them work in traditionally “creative” roles, but all of them were deeply curious about creativity in its most classic forms. Think: painting, sculpting, dancing.

We got into a conversation about what’s actually stopping them from starting—what’s keeping them from picking up the brush, signing up for that clay class, or just moving their body to music. The answer was surprising at first, but then… not really: it’s the unknown. A lack of direction.

I have realised that there is an assumption that people like me—or the designers I work with—just naturally dive into creative hobbies all the time, probably because we “have the skills.” But the truth? After countless chats with super-talented creatives, I can tell you that’s just not how it works.

So many of us face the same blocks: no clear starting point, no set goal, no tangible outcome that feels “worth sharing” online. Creativity, for a lot of people, including myself feels like it needs a purpose—or else it doesn’t count.

For month and months, I have been pondering on the concept of “low stakes creative outlets” - a phrase that was very well put together by the brilliant Leandra Medine Cohen.

It’s going to sound a bit cliche but I remember myself as a child and how imaginative I was, I was always playing and creating different worlds as I went, I’m sure you did too .... the irony is when we are children we can not wait to grow up (although I could never related to that statement, I loved being a child, truly, hand on heart ) and then we grow up and yarning to get back into play. I would say my re-introduction into play happened, few years ago, when my partner brought home a new PS5. I’m a 90s kid so yeah I’ve played video games growing up... my Sims girlies, I see you! It was over Christmas break so we spent quite a bit of our time playing and I noticed two things:

• my partner and I had a new outlet that bonded us even closer, it is hard to explained, it was kind of like an unspoken language, like we connected on a neurological level;

• I felt a lot sharper, it felt like the problem-solving part of my brain got a battery update.

A little compilation of what play has looked like for me lately

Since then I have been experimenting with difference forms of play, mostly hands on. I’ve been diving into learning more about effects of play —and not just the “fun and games” kind, but how some of the most successful, high-achieving people have some form of low-pressure play integrated into their daily lives. What really caught my attention was the idea of different types of play, and how “adult play often gets lost or suppressed”—but can actually be reignited when we lean into our own unique “play personality.”

So suddenly, we’re talking LEGO sets, board games, playdough—yes, even as grown-ups.

That’s how I stumbled across a collaboration between It’s Nice That and the LEGO Group. In it, they unpack the neurological benefits of play—how it improves creativity, mental health, and overall expression.

Play lets your mind wander, explore and connect ideas in ways that strict, formal thinking can’t. Just think about the best creative moments you’ve had – they probably happened when you were in a playful, relaxed headspace rather than staring blankly at a screen. Incorporating playful breaks into your workday or your creative process can lead to moments of flow where time seems to slip away and ideas naturally come together.

That piece got me thinking about the typical career path in the creative industry, especially from the perspective of a designer or art director. Using myself as an example: before I ever decided to pursue a creative career, I already had an inclination towards the arts. The stakes were low, so I gave myself permission to just play—to pass time, to try things, to build up a creative portfolio. That’s where I first began developing my creative intuition. I remember thinking, “Maybe a career in the arts could be for me…” I had something—a point of view. But I didn’t have the technical skills yet, so it felt weird calling myself a “designer.”

So I went out and studied. Graphic design, fashion and textiles, visual communication—you name it. Then I started working, and for a long time, I leaned on my hard skills. I brought value through technical craft.

Eventually, I moved into leadership. And something shifted. I started tapping back into that creative intuition. The balance between hard and soft skills slowly started to even out. Then—eventually—my soft skills, my taste, my point of view actually began to outweigh the hard skills. Because now, I had a team. A team that needed vision and direction.

Fast forward to now: I mentor creatives. And I’ve realised… I’ve kind of come full circle. The things I bring to the table today—my taste, intuition, point of view—are the same things that were my anchor at the start of my creative career. The more I work with other creatives, the more I see it: those quiet, personal anchors—taste, curiosity, intuition—are often the most powerful things we have.

And that brings me back to that idea: adult play is often lost or suppressed. No one tells you that creative intuition—the very thing so many people want to “unlock”—comes from a lived experience of discovering things. And that discovery comes from exploration. And exploration? That only happens when you’re in a state of flow.

And flow? It starts with play. Intentional play practice has reignited my creativity — and it’s fuelling a growing curiosity about what else play might unlock.

So whether you work in a creative field or you're just curious about developing your creative brain, play is going to benefit you—100%.

Actionable ways to introduce more play into your day-to-day:

1. Discover what lights you up.

Think back on hobbies or activities you've done—or are still doing. Clay class? Pole dancing? Baking? Hiking? Ask yourself: what’s the common thread here? Is it the joy of discovery? the fact that it requires technique? Physical expression? Sensory immersion? Social connection?
Identifying those patterns helps you understand your personal play language.

2. Make a “Play Menu.”

Preferably written by hand. List other activities—big or small—that tap into those same threads. If your common thread is “hands-on creativity,” your list might include watercolours, collage, baking or even redecorating a corner of your home. If it’s “the fact that it requires technique” + “intuition” , maybe it can be making patchwork or an aerial class... two vastly different examples.

From the list pick those activities that are easy to start, that don’t require a membership or a financial commitment.

3. Don’t overcomplicate it.

Remember: this is low-pressure play. It doesn’t need to be Pinterest-worthy or productive. The point is enjoyment, not output. Drop the expectations, and just start.

4. Set up your “play space.”

This doesn’t need to be fancy, but we need an intentional area where your mind can feel playful and free. It could be a corner of your desk, your kitchen table, the garden, or a blanket on the floor. The key is to name it and know that it’s there for you to access without friction.

5. Schedule your play.

I know—it sounds counterintuitive. But ask any good writer, and they’ll tell you: creativity shows up when you show up. Whether it's writing, painting, moving your body, or playing music, consistency matters more than duration. Block time in your calendar—even 20 minutes a week. Make it sacred.

6. Keep a Play Journal (or Voice Notes).

After each play session, jot down a sentence or two—or record a quick voice memo—about how it felt. What did you enjoy? What surprised you? This helps you track what fuels you, and it becomes a beautiful record of your creative energy growing. If you are interested in commonplace journal - this is a good resource on how to keep one.

7. Let it evolve.

You’re allowed to change your mind. Today it might be colouring books. Next month, improv classes. I encourage you to pivot and change your activities, you don’t have to follow a plan, instead “follow your fascinations”.

As a little treat, here is playlist that really puts me into that creative, playful state of mind.

If you are keen to start playing feel free to join my 30 Days of PLAY challenge over here. Just DM me and I will add you to the group chat.

I’m hoping to unpack the outcomes of this challenge in a newsletter.

Until next time, M x.

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