In an age where children are spending more time glued to screens than climbing, sliding, or pretending to be explorers, one Indian company has made it its mission to reclaim the magic of play. FunPlay Systems, a homegrown manufacturer of playground equipment from over 20 years, is quietly but firmly changing the way India thinks about childrenโs play. Through an exclusive interaction with Apage Rohit, GM, FunPlay Systems, Tejaswini Paranjape unearths FunPlay Systemsโ journey of innovation and its vision for the future of play.
What began with CoreCraft, their most popular and traditional line, has evolved into a design language that is both playful and deeply rooted in culture. Three years ago, the company introduced Nexlev, blending wood with complementary materials for a more natural feel. Last year, it pushed boundaries with FunPlay Originalsโa series inspired by origami, Indian culture, and nature. Each product carries a concept, not just a structure, reminding us that play can be as imaginative as it is physical.
At the heart of FunPlayโs philosophy is exploratory play. Apage explains it simply, โScreens are our competitors. We want to encourage kids to go to the playgrounds.โ That shift in mindsetโfrom passive entertainment to active discoveryโis what drives their design. It isnโt about installing a standard swing-and-slide set; itโs about creating spaces where children can role-play, imagine, collaborate, and invent their own games.
One of FunPlayโs biggest differentiators is customisation. In an industry dominated by standardised models, they offer 100% customised playgrounds, working closely with architects and clients to shape layouts based on available space, cultural context, and community needs. For metros like Mumbai, where every square foot is precious, compact solutions become essential. In the South, subtle and pastel palettes dominate, while the North prefers bolder, flashier colours. โWe listen first, then design,โ says Apage. The result is that no two FunPlay playgrounds lookโor feelโthe same.
The companyโs roots in manufacturing give it a rare edge. From its Vasai East unit in Mumbai, FunPlay designs, manufactures, dispatches, and manages after-sales service entirely in-house. This not only guarantees quality but also allows them to innovate rapidly, turning cultural inspirations into real equipment.
Beyond the equipment itself, FunPlayโs work reflects a deeper social purpose. Playgrounds are not just sites for fun; they are community spaces where friendships are built, social skills are sharpened, and imagination takes flight. By focusing on inclusive design and cultural storytelling, FunPlay ensures that children of different backgrounds and abilities find common ground on the playfield. This approach has also made them a trusted partner for schools and urban developers who see playgrounds not only as amenities, but as investments in healthier, happier futures.
Making a historical record, FunPlay Systems has won the prestigious Red Dot Design Concept Award 2024 in the “Public Space and Urban Design” category. This achievement not only highlights the brand’s commitment to innovation and design excellence but also showcases India’s design capabilities on the global stage. The award ceremony, held on October 10, 2024, in Singapore, celebrated outstanding design projects that pave the way for tomorrow’s extraordinary products. FunPlay Systems’ winning design, Fugdi equipment, brings happiness, tradition, and innovation to children worldwide, demonstrating the brand’s dedication to creating engaging and culturally relevant play experiences. By winning this award, FunPlay Systems enhances its brand value, solidifies its position as a design leader, and gains international recognition for its exceptional design quality. โ Winning an international award was a moment of ultimate satisfaction and pride for us,โ says Apage.
While schools and real estate developers are the biggest drivers of growth today, FunPlay has its sights set on upcoming cities like Pune, Jaipur, and Coimbatore. And with every new playground, the company hopes to build more than just structuresโit wants to build experiences. In a world where digital devices are the easiest babysitters, FunPlay Systems is betting on curiosity, imagination, and joy. Because at the end of the day, children donโt remember the number of hours spent in front of a tablet. They remember the playgrounds that let them fly.
