Playground Magazine
Issue 3
ABOUT THE CLIENT
Playground is a fresh, bi-annual independent magazine for imaginative minds created by studio playground. Featuring thought-provoking essays, engaging conversations and an assortment of “creative quickies”, it’s an honest, and at times, opinionated exploration of the creative mind and process.
YEAR
2025
SERVICES
Strategy & Conception
Creative Direction & Design
Content Commissioning
Content Creation & Management
Publishing & Distribution
ABOUT ISSUE 3
Following the success of its first two issues, studio playground once again gathered its creative forces to bring a new chapter to life. Released in the spring of 2025, Playground Issue 3 with its green cover explores the creative industries through the lens of freedom. The print brings together over 40 creatives and contributors to collaborate on the topic that extends beyond the creative world.
As more creatives choose to work independently and break free from rigid structures, it’s clear there’s a drive to escape rules, hierarchies, mistrust, and dishonesty. It felt like a conversation that needed more airtime.
As a concept, freedom is personal and means something different to everyone. In this issue, readers examine it from multiple angles.
Conducted an Open Call – For the first time, we launched an open call to invite contributors directly from our audience. The initiative was a success over 10 contributors featured in Issue 3 were discovered through this new process.
Stack Magazines – Playground Issue 3 was selected as Stack Magazine’s pick for the month of May 2025. As an international subscription platform, thousands of copies of our green issue landed in the hands of readers around the world. The response has been incredible and became a boost for a small, independent publication like ours.
Hosted an International Event – In collaboration with Stack Magazines and Amsterdam’s iconic Athenaeum Magazine Store, we hosted our first international launch event. The evening featured a conversation between Steve Watson of Stack and Auste Skrupskyte Cullbrand, Playground’s Editor-in-Chief, followed by a lively mingle where guests could explore and purchase the magazine.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Alongside the Amsterdam event, we also hosted a friends-and-family launch in our home base, Vilnius. We partnered with local favourites: Lynxmonadas lemonade and Raštine, a beloved stationery and coffee shop — to celebrate the release
We created two types of custom Fortune Cookies for our events — one designed to help guests break the ice and get to know each other, and another for them to take home. The second batch included “Play Break” prompts aka little ideas to open up when bored and bring more fun into the day
Won Gold at Swedish Design Awards, DesignPriset
With the release of Issue 3, Studio Playground launched its first-ever merch — caps! Embroidered with the phrase “more play,” they are made for those who take their creativity seriously (but not too seriously). Available in three colourways, they have already proven hugely popular, with 50% sold out
Issue 3’s distribution and presence has expanded massively. The publication has been sold in over 45 stores in 3 continents. Find the stockist list in our ‘Print’ page
– Reader Testimonial