The Business of Play: What Temporary Tattoos and Balloon Animals Teach Us About Connection

The Magic of the Temporary

Temporary tattoos and balloon animals are playful, colorful, and short-lived. That’s exactly what makes them special. They remind us that joy doesn’t need to last forever to matter. A balloon dog may pop, a tattoo may fade, but the smile in the moment lingers.

Because they won’t last, people choose to savor them in the moment. The glitter tattoo you wore at the fair becomes a memory tied to laughter with friends. The balloon crown you wore for an afternoon might be gone by the next morning, but the photos and the joy stay with you.

This connects perfectly with the Imagine If We Could Be Kids Again event, where we encourage to embrace experiences fully, without worrying about outcomes or permanence. As adults, we often chase things that last: careers, investments, even possessions. Yet temporary tattoos and balloon animals remind us that fleeting moments leave the most permanent mark on our hearts.

Play as a Universal Language

Play does not need a translation. Think about the last time you saw a kid wearing a balloon hat, grinning ear-to-ear. Or maybe the last time you had a temporary tattoo, just for the fun of it.

When we were young, a balloon sword was not just a balloon, it was an invitation to play. A temporary tattoo was a symbol of belonging. That feeling doesn’t disappear as we grow up. Play still has the power to break down walls and bring people together across ages, backgrounds, and cultures. 

For brands, there’s a big opportunity here. Fun and creativity are universal touchpoints that leave an impression. A playful campaign or small activation can stick in people’s minds long after the tattoos fade or the balloons pop.

 Lessons for Brands and Businesses

In class we have learned to approach problems with imagination and this project showed us how little things can teach us something bigger. For brands that means a campaign does not always need to be something grand. Sometimes it is the quick, fun moments like a pop-up booth that people usually remember the most.

These moments stand out because they feel personal. When someone walks away with a balloon crown or a glitter tattoo, they are leaving with not just an item but also with a memory. That memory often shapes how they view the brand as more than just a company.

The bigger takeaway is that not everything has to last forever to make a difference. Just like how kids enjoy a balloon even though it will eventually pop, consumers value moments that feel special but are often brief. Brands that embrace play can leave a lasting impression in the simplest ways.

Rediscovering Childhood to Move Forward

As children we lived in a world that was filled with joy and curiosity. But as college students, we are far removed from that kind of play.

Our Imagine We Could initiative will give University of Minnesota students an opportunity to not take themselves so seriously for a day, and forget about the stresses of being an adult, even if it’s just for an hour. 

The initiative might even inspire students to take on life with the same joy and curiosity, for the whole day, or the whole week. By leaning into living ‘like a kid’ we can unlock new ways of thinking, and even rediscover the wonder and authenticity of being a kid.