Play, like flow, is a state of mind when absorbed in an enjoyable yet stimulating activity that involves our intellectual curiosity – essential for opening our eyes to the new and undiscovered, to seek out and learn from new experiences.
Digital Play is about free play as a methodology and deliberate strategy to unlock new perspectives and ideas. The intention is for you to open new creative pathways, gain resilience and new skills using 3D digital modelling. Learning this additional skill through play is a neat way to justify making time to play, and hands-on play is a great way to discover affordances/constraints of new-to-you technology.
The Offer
Between February and June 2026, five Applied Art Scotland Members will explore digital ‘play’ and ‘purposeful play’ using innovative 3D digital haptic software and hardware, Anarkik3D Design. No previous 3D digital experience is needed as you will be supported throughout in bi-monthly zooms and online.
For the duration of the project
- You will have use of a dedicated laptop (pre-loaded with the 3D modelling software).
- A ‘haptic’ 3D controller/device, optimised for 3D printing.
- Bi-monthly zoom meet-ups supporting digital activity.
Participants will
- Receive a £500 fee for taking part, equivalent to £36.30/h (Scottish Artist Union hourly rate for a maker with 3-5 years experience)
- Have access to specialist tools with guidance from an expert
- Co-learning opportunity with peers
- Build their professional network
- Push boundaries of existing practice
Apply now, deadline 21 January 2026. If you have any questions, email project leader Ann Marie Shillito a.m.shillito@anarkikcreations.co.uk.
Apply Here
Easy to learn and fun to use, Anarkik3D design is geared for play.
ANN MARIE SHILLITO, PROJECT LEAD.
We will seriously explore how creative play enhances and impacts our individual practices within the context of our own work we will consider how elements such as flow, tacit knowledge, serendipity, curiosity, etc, interweave and scaffold our play and our work. The onus is on you regarding your own approach to ‘play’ and how much extra time you want to spend on 3D digital play and 3D modelling.
Project Lead
Ann Marie Shillito is a jeweller and founder/CEO of Anarkik3D Ltd which developed Anarkik3DDesign, a 3D modelling programme that she loves using. She is the author of the book ‘Digital Crafts: Industrial Technologies for Applied Artists and Designer Makers’. See examples of work here.
Your Commitment
- Minimum 3.5 hours a month (bi-monthly zoom meet-ups supporting digital activity and 1.5 hours self-directed play sessions to experiment freely and develop digital content related to own practice), remunerated at the Scottish Artists Union rate of £36.30 per hour).
- Flat, clean work space (approx. 1 m square) for laptop and haptic controller
- Create a visual journal of your journey
- Share outcomes with your colleagues and hopefully with the wider Applied Arts Scotland community at the end of the project.
Accessibility and Our Commitment
Applied Arts Scotland’s Commoning Craft Fund is about makers sharing their skills. Ann Marie Shillito is delighted to share her skills and experience and, participate too, to expand her knowledge as she finalises informal research around the importance of play for inspiration and stimulating our practices. This resource is available to you.
The only geographical constrain is that you need to live somewhere in Scotland.
The supplied laptop is pre-loaded and not dependent upon internet access or on minimum upload/download speeds. However, you will require internet access to join bi-monthly meet-ups on Zoom, download guides/handbook, watch videos, screen capture, edit images, etc. Ann Marie will provide online support for you to work in your own place. With the longer time span, you can work at your own pace and within the context of your disciplines.
Anarkik3DDesign is innovative and inclusive because haptics and full 3D interactions is immersive, making this programme very accessible, fun and easy to learn and use, and perfect for play. It is not CAD! The haptic controller/device provides 3D touch capability (‘force feedback’) which taps into how we naturally interact with the real world. You can touch and feel your virtual 3D models as you manipulate them. Virtual touch is only weird at first, a bit like playing with real world objects.
The more natural and coherent interface facilitates and encourages play making Anarkik3DDesign great for playing both freely and with purpose.
If you have anything that may limit your ability to take part, please get in touch with AAS using the contact details provided at the end of this document. AAS is keen to understand the real-life constraints that may impact on the ability to take advantage of opportunities offered and will work with you to identify solutions and alternatives to enable participation.
Programme and Timeline
Begins February 2026. End date is 30 June 2026
Mid Jan 2026: five AAS Members selected
End of Jan: five project participants receive haptic programme kit
- Date/time of initial training/information meeting agreed for early February
- Dates/time for bi-monthly online meet-ups agreed
- Agreement on Signal/WhatsApp for group communications, Zooms recorded, transcribed/AI summarised.
Early Feb (day to be agreed): Group tutorial: Introductions. Training session on basic digital tools, health and safety guidelines, overview of play as a creative methodology and start exploring digital play!
- The start of self-directed play sessions, experiment freely, try new approaches, share discoveries in Signal/WhatsApp group.
Mid Feb: 1st Zoom: themed discussion re digital play, highlight playful techniques / open-ended exploration.
End Feb: 2nd Zoom: individual challenges, reflect on first month’s playful experiments. Questions.
- Exploring Play through continuing self-directed play sessions.
Mid-March: 3rd Zoom: reflections/discussions on elements that affect play re flow, tacit knowledge, curiosity, serendipity, constraints etc.
End March: 4th Zoom: Online discussions on moving to purposeful play.
- In participants’ own time: continue self-directed play sessions, sharing.
Mid April: 5th Zoom: Mid-project review: participants share progress.
- Discuss sustainable practice, how digital technologies might enable this.
End April: 6th and last Zoom: time for questions.
- Intro to 3D Digital Consequences, a voluntary ‘end of project’ mini project.
May: Development & Collaboration
- Participants’ own time: continue self-directed play sessions, sharing.
- Continue development of individual or collaborative work, with access to support and peer feedback via Signal/WhatsApp.
Mid May: 3D Digital Consequences: 1st SWOP.
End of May: 3D Digital Consequences: 2nd SWOP.
June: Reflection and Sharing
- Participants’ own time: continue self-directed play sessions, sharing
Early June: 3D Digital Consequences: 3rd and final SWOP.
- Share in Signal/Substack: Individual documentation of process and outcomes through digital journals, photographs, and video diaries.
- Feedback/collate draft report/presentation 22nd June.
22 June: open Zoom meet-up (recorded): Presentations re: Group reflection session and evaluation on fusion of play, purpose, and digital making, models from 3D Digital Consequences presented, participants present their journeys, findings to audience of peers, and the wider public
30 June: end of Project: Participants return laptops and haptic devices to Anarkik3D.
- Ann Marie to finalise outcomes arising from project for July evaluation meeting.
Topics for discussions in bi-monthly Zooms
- Types of creative play and factors linking into play – flow, tacit knowledge, serendipity, curiosity, constraints, etc.
- Concept generation, prototyping, 3D tech, circular economy.
- Issues aligned with AAS’s “making sustainable livelihoods” strategy.
- Resources (online):
- Presentation/info on ‘play and purposeful play’
- Anarkik3DDesign online info and tutorials
Inter-group communication on Signal/WhatsApp for sharing information, co-working and assistance.
For the last 6 weeks we will explore a fun iterative project, swapping 3D digital models to transform. Project consolidates much that has been learnt.
Your Application
To apply for this opportunity, please fill out the form or submit the following by email to hello@appliedartsscotland.org.uk by 18:00 on 21 January 2026:
- Statement of interest (up to 500 words).
- Three images that illustrate your practice.
In your statement (which can be written or recorded), please describe
- your practice
- any previous experience you may have with immersive technology, and whether this is as part of your practice or not (or state if you have no previous experience)
- why you want to take part in this opportunity.
- how you anticipate taking part might benefit your practice
- where you are located.
Eligibility
- You are a current Applied Arts Scotland Member or meet the eligibility criteria for Professional or Associate Membership. All craft disciplines are welcomed and applications from makers from under-represented groups are particularly welcomed. You do not have to be a current Member of Applied Arts Scotland to apply for this opportunity but selected participants who are not yet Members will be required to join.
- You have the enthusiasm to experiment and expand your making practice.
- Confirmation that you will do your best to join the mandatory bi-monthly Zooms specified in the project timeline.
- You are keen to share what you learn with the wider making community. (i.e. join in the final online meeting on 22 June 2026 which will be open to all AAS Members and non-Members.)
- You consent for Applied Arts Scotland to collect the personal information you provide in your application form for use as detailed in the ‘Data Protection’ section.
- Confirmation that you have completed and submitted an anonymous Equality & Diversity Monitoring Form.
Selection
Only makers who submit all required information (statement, images and confirmation of completed monitoring form) by the deadline of 21 January 2026 will be considered for this opportunity.
Five makers will be selected to take part, based on:
- Your ability to articulate/demonstrate benefits to practice from taking part in this opportunity.
- Your enthusiasm to engage with the project aims.
- Evidence that you meet the AAS Membership criteria.
- Your location in Scotland.
- We aim to achieve diversity of craft practice and experience among the selected makers.
On your acceptance to the project, you consent to send Ann Marie Shillito the following:
- Your location / address (where to send the haptic kit to). If you can collect it from Edinburgh, Ann Marie will give you a brief tutorial to get you up and running!
- Your bank details: for monthly payments to you.
- Days, dates and times that you are not available for bi-monthly Zooms.
- Days, dates and times that suit you for bi-monthly Zooms.
- Confirmation that you will provide insurance cover for the haptic kit: your own home content or business equipment insurance should cover hired kit as if it’s your own equipment. Just ensure that your agreed limit is not exceeded. Replacement value: haptic device at £450, laptop at £450. (This security approach is standard ‘tool library’ practice for tool and equipment hire. This approach avoids duplicating insurance fees.)
Data Protection
The information provided by you in your application, including personal information such as your name and email address, will be collected and processed by Applied Arts Scotland for the purpose of reviewing your application to participate in the project and communicating with you about the project, as well as for reporting and evaluation. Detailed information about how we do this can be found in our Privacy Policy. Applied Arts Scotland will also share your application with the selection panel, including our project partner Ann Marie Shillito, for the same purpose.
All anonymous, sensitive personal information you provide in your Equality & Diversity Monitoring Form will be treated as private and confidential and will be stored securely and safely by us using third-party data processors, as per our Privacy Policy, specifically as detailed in the ‘Equality & Diversity Monitoring’ section.
