We Are PLAYSTRUCK
We design playtools and experiences that help people reconnect with their natural creativity and resilience: at work, at school, at home, and in their communities. Rooted in neuroscience and the human experience, our approach turns play into meaningful growth for people, teams, and communities. So we can all play well. For life.
For PLAYSTRUCK’s Founders, Play is Personal
Early in 2023, we (Christina Kaputsos-Zieklinski and Sandra Diana Cantú) found ourselves at a career crossroads while navigating the beautiful chaos of raising young children. We were left reeling from the upheaval to our daily lives. But in that moment, we realized something essential had been missing: play and the power it brings. The power of play to create, connect, and heal.
We looked around and saw this lack everywhere: in classrooms where curiosity was sidelined by curriculum, workplaces where burnout overshadowed creativity, and in the quiet moments when so many of us feel disconnected from our passions, our potential, and our people.
That’s why we built PLAYSTRUCK. With 40+ years combined experience leading teams, advising organizations, and coaching across Innovation, EdTech, Education, Wellness and Entertainment, we design tools and experiences that help people reconnect, rebuild, and rediscover.
From our award-winning cognitive playtool The Doodle Challenge™ to transformative team experiences, everything we create blends psychology, design thinking, and the science of play. We’re here to tap into hidden strengths, turn creativity into a daily practice, and find connection in a disconnected world.
As a bi-coastal, women- and minority-owned studio, we’re committed to building futures where play isn’t just for - it's for everyone. It’s a pathway to wellbeing, belonging, and becoming more fully ourselves.
Because play isn’t just fun. It’s how we heal, grow, and thrive. Together.
So let’s play.
—Christina & Sandra
Working With and For The Best
Alumni of the world’s most innovative places and spaces.
A collective 40+ years shaping experiences at top-tier organizations.
The Founders
Christina Kaputsos
Founder | Head of Creative & Product
Christina is an award winning creative and product leader with 16+ years building products, experiences, multimodal ecosystems, and curriculum across education, technology, and wellbeing. Her work is grounded in behavioral and psychology-informed design and focuses on how products and environments shape how people learn, connect, and engage across ages.
Her background spans product architecture and user experience strategy, along with illustration, interactive and game-based experience design, brand strategy, curriculum design, and R&D-led product development. She has built assessment and experience evaluation systems for Fortune 500 companies, startups, educational institutions, nonprofits, and government initiatives — including work for Capital One, the Federal Aviation Administration and Make-A-Wish — across both domestic and international contexts.
She founded PLAYSTRUCK to bring together storytelling, behavioral insight, and systems thinking into products and experiences that support connection, curiosity, and everyday wellbeing.
Why Play?
"Play is how we uncover who we are, connect more deeply with others, and imagine better ways to live, learn, heal, and lead."
BFA, Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) | Design Thinking – Cornell |
UX Certification | SBWI Member
Sandra Diana Cantú
Co-Founder | Head of Growth & Engagement
Sandra is a brand strategist, storyteller, and performer with over two decades of experience creating meaningful connections across digital spaces, learning platforms, and community-driven environments. She has led organic growth, community development, and educational media initiatives for big brands and small startups alike. Her work blends narrative design, voice, and engagement strategy to help ideas resonate with people of all ages.
Sandra began her community-centric career in partnership with Disney for their Virtual Magic Kingdom. She went on to serve as the first Global Community Manager of Sulake’s flagship property, heading a team of 70 across five countries. At EdTech startup codeSpark, Sandra built the Branding, Customer Service, and Community teams from the ground up, and lent her voice talents to their marketing ads and over half a dozen in-app characters.
As co-founder of PLAYSTRUCK, Sandra leads growth, engagement, and the emotional voice of the brand, shaping how experiences are introduced, shared, and felt. Her background in performance and character development informs her approach to building environments that invite participation, imagination, and connection.
Why Play?
"Play gives us permission to write our own stories."
AMDA NYC Music Theatre Program | Proud SAG-AFTRA Member
Our Core Team
From PhDs to PR, Partnerships to Product Design and so much more, PLAYSTRUCK‘s team of
multi-hyphanate powerhouses transforms play into multi-modal experiences and products for your wellbeing. We also have additional partners across cognitive science and creative development to ensure everything we build is as purposeful as it is playful.
Mamatha Chary, PhD
Research Design
Muhammad Shahzad
Engineering
Marni Sandler
Process & Operations Strategy
Allison Salvati
Marketing, Partnerships & PR
Brian Hess
Art & Interactive
Seth Thygesen
Production & Animation
#playwellforlife
Why “Play”?
Play is Survival
Play isn’t an escape from reality, it’s how we practice being human. In times of uncertainty, play becomes our most vital tool for adaptation, connection, and growth. It’s the foundation where true learning begins and healing takes root.
Creativity Confidence is Essential
In a world of constant change, believing in your own creative voice isn't just nice, it's vital. Our playtools help people of all ages trust their ideas, solve unexpected problems, and discover that they are, in fact, creative.
The Future Is Multihyphenate
The next generations won’t just have careers, they’ll invent them! We design experiences that help people weave their passions, skills, and stories into work that matters, because the future rewards those who can’t be put in boxes.
Connection Starts with Play
From a simple doodle shared between strangers to collaborative moments that build trust, everything we create is designed to spark empathy, courage, and the kind of community that makes us all feel seen.
The world doesn’t just need more players; it needs people who know how to play well.
Our Methodology
The Well Played Framework™:
Play Well at Any Age
Behind every PLAYSTRUCK experience lies the Well Played Framework™: a research-backed system for all ages that builds resilience, creativity, and connection through intentional play.
For kids, it develops foundational skills. Adults reignite innate creativity to combat burnout and spark innovation. Teams and organizations can use it to foster mental wellbeing and collaborative problem-solving.
This isn’t just play. It’s living well by playing well.
Where We Play
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Rochester, NY
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Los Angeles, CA
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Globally
Though we’re rooted in two coasts, our team collaborates across time zones to design play that transcends borders, reaching classrooms, boardrooms, and living rooms worldwide.
Why Remote Works for Play:
We’ve built a culture where creativity thrives on trust, flexibility, and the belief that brilliant ideas can spark anywhere, from home offices to coffee shops to (occasionally) beachside brainstorming sessions.
Let’s Build Something Meaningful
Whether you’re a…
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School bringing play-based learning into classrooms
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Company seeking innovative team experiences
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Hospital or care facility using play to support wellbeing and healing
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Organization passionate about creative empowerment and stress reduction
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Individual looking to reconnect with curiosity and untapped potential
…we harness our proprietary research and reports to design custom solutions and partnerships as unique as your goals. The conversation starts here. Let’s create meaningful connection through play.