Build boldly. Explore freely. Build community.

Kole is a culturally inspired building system that transforms play into a language of creativity, storytelling, and community. Through open-ended building experiences, Kole encourages people of all ages to explore identity, communicate ideas, and create meaningful connections with others.

Designed by artist and educator Isaiah Aladejobi, Kole was born from the belief that creativity is one of our most powerful tools for learning, self-expression, and preserving culture. Inspired by African architecture, contemporary design, and the diverse communities of Washington, DC, Kole invites builders to imagine without instructions and discover that every shape has the potential to tell a story.

Whether through tactile cardboard, engraved wood, or vibrant acrylic pieces, each Kole set encourages hands-on exploration that stimulates both the senses and the imagination. Every build becomes an opportunity to experiment, collaborate, and reflect—transforming play into a shared creative experience.

More than a product, Kole is an educational platform that lives through workshops, museum programs, schools, community events, and public installations. By bringing together art, design, culture, and sensory learning, Kole helps bridge generations, nurture emotional expression, and inspire curiosity in a world increasingly shaped by digital experiences.

At its core, Kole believes that culture is something we build together. Every structure reflects a story, every collaboration strengthens community, and every act of play reminds us that imagination has the power to connect people across generations, identities, and backgrounds.

KOLE Workshops

Kole Workshops are immersive, hands-on experiences that transform play into a tool for creativity, cultural exploration, and community building. Rooted in themes such as identity, storytelling, collaboration, and imagination, each workshop invites participants to explore how art and design can communicate who we are and how we connect with others.

Using Kole's open-ended building system, participants create structures inspired by their memories, heritage, environments, and ideas. Through guided prompts and collaborative activities, they discover how shapes, colors, and materials can become a visual language for expressing culture, emotions, and personal experiences. Every workshop encourages curiosity, experimentation, and reflection, allowing builders to learn through making while developing confidence in their own creative voice.

Kole Workshops are designed to adapt to a variety of audiences and learning environments. In schools, they support STEAM education, creative problem-solving, and critical thinking through culturally responsive learning. In museums, libraries, and community spaces, they create opportunities for intergenerational dialogue, encouraging families and neighbors to build, share stories, and learn from one another. For artists, educators, and organizations, Kole provides a new medium for collaboration, creative exploration, and public engagement.

More than an art activity, a Kole Workshop is an invitation to slow down, imagine, and create together. Every structure becomes a conversation, every collaboration strengthens community, and every participant leaves with a deeper appreciation for the power of play as a lifelong practice of learning, storytelling, and cultural preservation.

Together, we don't just build objects—we build understanding, belonging, and community.

KOLE Pop-Ups

Kole Pop-Ups transform everyday spaces into vibrant environments for creativity, exploration, and community. Designed for festivals, museums, schools, galleries, and public events, each pop-up invites people of all ages to discover the joy of building together through Kole's culturally inspired building system.

Rather than simply playing with blocks, participants step into an interactive experience where imagination becomes a shared language. Families, friends, and first-time builders are encouraged to explore, experiment, and collaborate using Kole's modular pieces to create structures inspired by their stories, cultures, and communities. Every build is unique, and every participant contributes to a larger conversation about creativity, identity, and connection.

Each Kole Pop-Up features a variety of interactive experiences designed to encourage curiosity and engagement. Visitors can freely explore open-ended building stations, respond to creative play prompts, and participate in collaborative challenges that celebrate storytelling and cultural expression. Dedicated family building areas invite multiple generations to create side by side, while featured installations showcase the artistic possibilities of Kole and inspire new ways of thinking through design.

Whether creating individually or as part of a collective build, participants experience how play can foster communication, confidence, and belonging. The tactile nature of Kole encourages hands-on discovery while creating opportunities for meaningful conversations across ages, backgrounds, and experiences.

Every Kole Pop-Up is designed to be welcoming, accessible, and memorable. It is more than an event—it is a creative gathering where art, culture, and community come together through the simple act of building.

Come explore, create, and discover how imagination has the power to bring people together—one shape, one story, and one community at a time.

KOLE Artwork

The Kole Showcase is an immersive exhibition that explores the intersection of art, culture, identity, and play through the evolving language of Kole. Featuring sculptures, installations, interactive experiences, and functional design, the showcase invites visitors to experience how simple forms can carry complex stories. Every piece reflects the belief that creativity is not only something we make—it is something that connects us to ourselves, our communities, and our cultural heritage.

At the center of the exhibition is the work of artist, designer, and educator Isaiah "PZay" Aladejobi, whose practice reimagines play as a lifelong tool for self-discovery, healing, and connection. As a first-generation Nigerian American raised in Washington, DC, Isaiah draws from the duality of navigating two cultures while reflecting on the experiences of growing up as a Black male in America. His work questions the expectation that adulthood requires abandoning imagination and challenges the idea that play belongs only to childhood.

Through Kole, Isaiah transforms modular forms into a visual language that encourages storytelling, collaboration, and cultural preservation. Visitors are invited to engage with works inspired by African design, community architecture, memory, and personal identity—discovering how every shape can become a symbol and every build can become a conversation.

More than an exhibition, the Kole Showcase is a space for reflection, participation, and shared experience. It celebrates the timeless nature of culture and reminds us that creativity continues to evolve throughout our lives. Whether viewing the artwork or building alongside others, visitors are encouraged to reconnect with their imagination, honor their stories, and recognize that play has the power to build stronger communities.

A diverse array of talent across disciplines is on display in the first exhibition to showcase the work of 45 faculty and staff members at the George Washington University’s Corcoran School of the Arts and Design, housed in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences. Kole’s new work and interactive work were on display in 2025.