PROLUDIC CELEBRATES

For a man who has been working in the industry for over 20 years, Steve Walding still gets excited talking about playground design. We asked Steve to tell us a little about Proludic, one of the country’s most prominent playspace companies, and share his views on playspace design in the Australian landscape.

Q. How did Proludic get started?

A. When I began working in the field 20 years ago, play equipment was functional but there wasn’t a lot of playground design involved. You might find a swing, a slide and a basic climbing unit in your local park, but not much more. My business partner and wife, landscape architect Madeleine Walding, and I launched Proludic in Australia in 2010. We saw an opportunity for a design-led company that was 100 percent suited to the Australian environment.

Q. As part of a large, international group, what are the benefits for Australian customers when working with Proludic?

A. Originally founded in France in 1988, the company has always made a significant investment in research and development. Being a part of this global network offers real advantages for our clients.

Australia has such a strong outdoor culture and a solid demand for good quality recreational areas. As a result, our ideas for product improvements and for the design of new products are embraced by HQ in France and implemented worldwide.

The focus on innovation and our ability to give constant feedback to our manufacturing team has led to more inclusive, creative designs and stronger, more resilient play equipment that is safe for children and sustainably produced.

Q. How important is inclusive design to your approach?

A. For us, inclusive design is fundamental. We’ve had a longstanding commitment to creating play equipment and inclusive playspaces that all children can enjoy. We also feel it’s important to offer resources to others connected to the industry to increase knowledge in this area.

Our Inclusive Play Areas Guide was the first of its kind. Since its release, other guides have been written and more projects are being designed along inclusive guidelines.

Q. Australia is now leading the world in designing play environments. What does that mean for the play landscape?

A. In the last five to ten years, I’ve seen people’s expectations about what makes a good playground get higher and higher. With social media, the public can easily give feedback on what works and what doesn’t. As a result, there’s been an increase in community expectations and investment in better playspaces. It’s given us an opportunity to implement new ideas and develop better products.

Throughout our design process, we also try to give a voice to those who are often not easily heard — babies and toddlers, teenage girls, the elderly and people with disability.

Q. What makes a great playground?

A. Playgrounds are all about kids being active and having fun. They’re a focal point for thriving communities to meet, relax, get fit and enjoy each other’s company. They’re a central ingredient of what makes somewhere a good place to live. A successful playground is also one that’s designed to fit into its local environment.

Q. What is the company’s approach to playspace development projects?  

A. Proludic’s method is grounded in innovative design, sustainability, a deep knowledge of children, and the delivery of outstanding customer service. Our philosophy is to provide opportunities for children to choose how they play. Children’s needs always come first in every design, but client service is also fundamental to us.

Our service model is based on outstanding design, easy-to-maintain, durable equipment, environmentally sound production processes, ready access to stock and spare parts, and on time professional delivery and installation.

Having a great team of qualified local landscape architects, designers and construction professionals that help bring our clients’ vision to life is at the core of our Australian success story.

We’re confident that Proludic’s playgrounds will continue to offer our customers exceptional value and bring joy to Australian families for years.