Earlier this year, we teamed up with the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Maribor to run a project competition for Product Design students. The winning concept, Playscapes by Ronja Osovnikar Šraj, was presented at the BIG Design 2024 fair in the historic centre of Ljubljana in October. In this article, we share the experiences and ideas behind this concept, which we hope will inspire you to get started with FoamCoating.
“What really helped me understand how to work with FoamCoating was seeing it in action. The moment I discovered the bounce of the Pouf Blocks during the initial presentation, everything clicked. That hands-on interaction, combined with seeing examples of how it had been used in previous projects immediately sparked new ideas. It wasn’t just about understanding the material technically — it was about feeling its potential and visualising creative, playful and practical ways to implement it. Embracing childlike imagination was also essential in designing the playground, allowing me to create spaces that inspire exploration and joy. That mix of tactile experience and visual inspiration gave me a clear direction from the start.” — Ronja Osovnikar Šraj
If you are an architect or designer, receive free samples of our SoftFlex and FlexPlus materials delivered to your door. Request samples here
"Developing the prototype was a process of refinement where I focused on keeping the design to match the proportions of the human body while ensuring it could be cut efficiently with minimal waste. It was all about balancing comfort and practicality, fine-tuning every detail to create something ergonomic, intuitive and sustainable." — Ronja Osovnikar Šraj
"Designing for an actual company and a specific user is an invaluable learning experience for students, who gain support for their creative development through assignments and mentorship. Additionally, top-performing students have the chance to showcase their work publicly. In all cases, this type of collaboration provides serious students with a unique opportunity to understand the entire design process—from initial concept to final solution, including 3D visualization—and, for the best among them, the opportunity to see and test their products in real life." — Sonja Šterman
"Seeing the design come to life from a 3D model to a physical object was incredibly rewarding. There's a unique joy in watching something you’ve only visualised materialise, especially when people begin interacting with it. I loved how children immediately gravitated toward it, finding creative ways to use the shapes for play. Adults were a bit hesitant at first, but once one person took the leap, others quickly followed — some to relax, others to pose for pictures. Seeing everyone engage with it just as I envisioned was truly fulfilling. This experience has ignited my passion for creating designs that bring joy to those who interact with them, and I am incredibly thankful for this opportunity." — Ronja Osovnikar Šraj
"This year's project with Sixinch was an exciting and rewarding challenge for the students. The material, with its specific properties and potential finishes, offered a rich creative platform. The target audience—in this case, children—added another layer of inspiration and complexity to the process. I believe we have developed several aesthetic and functional concepts that could effectively enliven public spaces for which they were designed. A highlight of this collaboration was the resulting prototype, which was excellently tested during Design Month. Through widespread implementation, these playgrounds could inspire creativity, strengthen community ties, and promote healthy, active lifestyles across various public spaces." — Sonja Šterman