We were lucky to catch up with Ryan K Rosen recently and have shared our conversation below.
Ryan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
Our studio is purpose driven: we create friendly designs for a friendlier world. So, we’re grateful that each project we work on is filled with meaning. Both the design process and output create more opportunities for healthy and joyful human connection. So we’re consistently bringing people together across generational divides to inspire play and fun!
The most rewarding part of our work is when our designs help blossom a new friendship :)
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
People often call me The Friendly Designer, and that makes sense because I am the Founder and Creative Director of Friendly Futures, a design studio with one goal: friendly designs for a friendlier world!
Our studio focuses on weaving intergenerational play into creative placemaking efforts. Whether through spaces, objects, or experiences, all of our projects are united in inviting opportunities for connection, movement, and play for all ages. We specialize in multifunctional, eye-catching playsculptures and playscapes where activities naturally overlap. Our designs are crafted to appeal to all generations, ensuring that more individuals find value in them. By infusing play into our work, we harness its magic as a catalyst for connection and joy!
I’m incredibly grateful for my journey with Friendly Futures. For a long time, I’ve recognized that my superpower is kindness and friendliness. Through exploration and experimentation, I’ve learned how to transform this gift into a meaningful career that connects with others. Thank you all for joining our mission of building a friendlier world!
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding thing is the ability to transform our world with the power of design. We believe humans have the immense privilege of designing the world we dream of, and we know so many people out there who share our dream of a friendlier world, so for us, having the opportunity to take action to realize this vision is immensely rewarding.
On the daily level, as I mentioned earlier, each time one of our designs or events blossoms a new relationship is the most rewarding aspect of my job.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Yes! “Why Grow Up” by Susan Neiman, “Age Inclusive Public Space” by Dominique Hauderowicz and Kristian Serena, and “Bowling Alone” by Robert Putnam have been very influential in shaping our design philosophy.
These books called us to create forward thinking community places where all generations can come together. These books also inspired us to anchor our designs with play, as our world needs some serious fun for us to create our most vibrant and connected communities!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.friendly-futures.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/friendly_futures/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendly-futures-art-architecture/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendly-futures
