Makers of Imaginary Worlds

Somabotics researchers are designing soft robots for The Garden, an interactive installation for children and a collaboration between Artists from  Makers of Imaginary Worlds (MiOW), Playground, Kent, and Lakeside Arts, Nottingham. It will be part of the Playground international festival for early years taking place in May 2026. A dedicated space within the installation will focus on infants aged 0–12 months, where our research into soft robotics will be developed. The soft robotics strand of The Garden is significant because it brings an emerging technology into the context of early childhood cultural participation. Unlike rigid robotic systems, soft robotics can adapt to small hands and delicate interactions, making it particularly well-suited for children aged 0–12 months. Soft robotics offers new possibilities for designing safe, flexible, and responsive objects that enable multi-sensory play through touch, pressure, movement and sound. These could contribute to early development, the baby’s understanding of the world and foster their relationship with adults. These opportunities however remain under-explored. The team will engage somatic and co-design methods working with parents and children to give form to a collection of garden-themed interactive installations.