Child's Play: 25 Polish Designer Objects for Kids
#design
Design for kids? Of course! Polish designers are bringing out products, furniture and toys that are not only educational, eco-friendly and fun, but also picture pretty. Here's Culture.pl's exclusive pick!
A cozy nest
Agnieszka Kwiecińska, Miuki Koko Basic, photo: IAM press materials
Designed by Agnieszka Kwiecińska, the Miuki pouffe is a delightful multifunctional seating solution. It can be an armchair, a bed or just a cozy nest to curl up in. The pouffes come in a variety of vibrant colours and models. The Jajo (Egg) model won a Must Have Award at one of Poland's most important design events, Łódź Design Festival, in 2011.
A sweet companion
Aleksandra Trościankowska, Bambaks, photo IAM press materials
Bambaks are great companions and there's a whole family of these felt and fleece toys! The bespectacled guitarist named Bambak, a ninja, a gangster, a mathematician, and an architect called Edward. 'Bambaks are from Poland', product designer Aleksandra Trościankowska explains, 'but they live all around the world – from Africa to Australia.
Wooden Horses & Toy Soldiers: Polish Toys Through the Ages
A redesignable plate
Alicja Patanowska, Ścieranki - rysowanki, plates, photo courtesy of the artist
Alicja Patanowska is already well-known in the design world. Her Plantation collection is even featured in Shanghai's glass museum! The Ścieranki – Rysowanki (Wipe Off – Draw) porcelain plates is something she created specially for kids. The plates are coated with a layer of chalkboard paint, so they can be redesigned endlessly! Added bonus: the plates are made entirely from recycled material.
Selected Works by Alicja Patanowska - Image Gallery
A wooden zoo
Endangered species, designed by Anna Bajor, producer: Bajo, Must Have 2014, photo: Łódź Design Festival 2014
A gorilla, a panda, a rhino and a polar bear make up this wooden community of animals, designed by Anna Bajor and produced by Tobe by Bajo. Wooden toys have always been a must in every child's toy chest. These are extra special: each of the wooden animals created by Bajor are currently endagered. A good reminder about the importance of taking care of our environment and a good teaching moment!
Wild Poland: Tracking Poland’s Majestic Animals
Some storage on wheels
Michal Bogusz, hippo by Tobe, producer: Bajo, photo courtesy of the designer
Shaped like a hippo or a dachshund, these toys on wheels are made of out of wood and cardboard. Designed by Michał Bogusz for the up-and-coming brand Tobe, they are the perfect combination of organisation and play.
Cultural Beasts: Poland's Influential Animal Kingdom
A household-friendly car
Bartosz Mucha, Sink Car, photo courtesy of the designer
Bartek Mucha’s POOR TOYS are a set of toy cars made out of beech wood. But these aren’t just any toy cars. Each one is combined with a common household item: the Peg Car is a tow truck with a large clothes pin instead of a hook; the Brush Car is a limousine-scrub brush; and the Sink Car is a suction cup tow truck. His toys can be used both for play and for everyday chores. An unusual combination of business and pleasure!
Selected works by Bartosz Mucha – Image Gallery
A doll house
Boomini doll house, photo: press materials
Boomini WOOD is a 1:6 scale dollhouse. It is made up of 3 pieces, with a terrace and stairs, and can be configured in various ways to make your dream villa or loft space. Play with dolls or just decorate the interiors however you like! The dollhouse is an ideal toy for groups of kids as the interior is accessible from both sides.
A is for Architecture: Designing Buildings For Kids
Some magnets
Esy Magnesy, photo press materials
Esy Magnesy magnets come in all shapes, colours and sizes. Make your own designs, put them together, take them apart and rearrange them any way you like! Kids can make incredible designs, whether from their own imaginations or from the instruction booklet which is included.
A walker
Grzegorz Cholewiak, hoop rolling toys from the collection Toll'sToy, photo courtesty of the designer
Grzegorz Cholewiak's design received a Must Have Award in 2013. This very simple old-school toy, called Toll’s Toy Laufrad, consists of a stick with a circle attached to its end. The Laufrad can be the first mobile toy in a child's life and can accompany him or her as they take their very first steps!
Each one is hand-painted and produced in a small artisanal workshop. The Toll's Toy series also includes also a wooden spinning top and a skipping rope.
Wooden Horses & Toy Soldiers: Polish Toys Through the Ages
Some oversized blocks
OdRzeczy design, HOCKO creative and eco-frienfly toys, photo OdRzeczy
Created by the OdRzeczy design collective, these large cardboard Hocko blocks can be assembled at home or outdoors. Feel free to draw, paint or decorate them however you see fit. For those who are worried they will take up too much room, there is also a somewhat smaller version available.
Building Blocks: Poland’s Most Popular Homes
Some construction toys
Bartosz Światowski, Integra Toys, photo press materials
This timeless set of wooden construction pieces by Integra Toys is meant to inspire creativity, and further coordination and dexterity. This set of screws, bolts and slats was designed by Bartosz Światowski.
An animal lamp
Kafti Design, Mishka, photo courtesy of the designers
Designed by Kafti Design, these animal lamps can brighten up any room. The Mishka lampshade features a smiling bear face, while the Buzy version features a rabbit. The lampshade can be used on both a floor and ceiling lamp.
A wicker seat
Katarzyna Herman-Janiec, "Protein Design", Pleciaki, photo courtesy of the designers
These multifunctional stool (called Pleciaki) were designed by Katarzyna Herman-Janiec from Protein Design. This seat/container/toy is modelled after buckets, which can be found often in the Polish countryside. The only difference is that this 'wicker' is made of newspaper! The cushion patterns are inspired by traditional murals from the colourful town of Zalipie in Lesser Poland voivodeship.
Folk Art at Home: A DIY Guide to Polish Paper Cut-outs
A curious table
Klaudia Kuhn, Interiorrecords, Bawa table, photo press materials
A classic two-in-one: a table and an educational toy. Designed by Klaudia Kuhn and produced by Interiorrecords, this unusual table teaches kids shapes, colours and how to put things together. Composed of a folding table, four stools, and a whole bunch of wooden construction pieces, the Bawa set received the Furniture Design Award and the Must Have award at the Łódź Design Festival.
A Typical Polish Table at Concordia Design
A doll with character
Minimetry, Włodek Kotwica doll, photo: press materials
The dolls designed by Minimetry studio are as cute as they are interesting: Włodek Kotwica is an old sea wolf who's travelled the seven seas of the earth; Pani Fika is a compulsive watermelon-eater who has a fruit growing in her belly after she accidentally swallowed a seed; Pani Paki, on the other hand, adores birds and soften goes to the Milickie Ponds with her family to spot cranes, herons and white-tailed eagles.
Making Dolls From Another Universe with Mirella von Chrupek
An upcycled doll
Muc Muc, Elena and Fela, photo press materials
Muc-Muc dolls are made entirely of recycled materials, and you won't find identical twins among them! Each doll is made by hand by Gabriela Wójcik and no two Muc-Mucs are the same. If you are looking for something unique – this is for you!
A flying carpet
Pan Pepe, "Cloud", photo press materials
A chance to walk on clouds! This cloud-shaped carpet is made of fleece and manufactured in Poland by Pan Pepe studio. Pan Pepe creates wonderful and whimsical toys out of this soft material, making play fun and cosy.
A set of cut-outs
Psikusy, 2017, publisher: Gang Design / Pani Jurek
The Psikusy cut-out cards book and blocks are Pani Jurek’s newest creation. Psikusy introduces kids to non-pedigree dogs, the importance of adopting pets, and the concepts of diversity and tolerance. Different shapes, colors, breeds, personalities – nature at its best! The book contains 40 cards with different parts of purebred dogs – with the heads, paws, bellies and tails, kids can create their own beloved puppy-pals!
Selected works by Pani Jurek – Image Gallery
A cardboard city
Robert Czajka, Ringo, Cardboard city, photo press materials
Paper Town is a foldable cardboard city! Made sheets of corrugated cardboard with cut-out shapes of cityscapes, such as trucks, hotels, playgrounds, gas stations, restaurants, department stores, cars and trees, any kid can create their own city within the comfort of their own home! Designed by Robert Czajka of Ringo Toys, the toy was awarded a silver medal from the European Design Awards in 2012.
Selected Works by Robert Czajka – Image Gallery
Some spinning tops
Smaga designers, folk spinning tops, press materials
A long-established toy, these spinning tops are coloured like the traditional dresses of various Polish regions. Designed by Smaga Projektanci, this was an official souvenir of the Polish presidency of the EU Council in 2011. And we can see why!
Wooden Horses & Toy Soldiers: Polish Toys Through the Ages
A snowless sled
Szymon Hanczar, We never give up! sled, press materials
Designer Szymon Hanczar found a solution to those wintry summers and summery winters alike – a sled on wheels called We never give up! No snow necessary – fun to be had!
The Games That Made Us Polish
A cradle
Woodszczęścia, wooden cradle, photo: Woodszczęścia
It looks like a cradle straight from a fairy tale! This wooden cradle for dolls and teddies made by Woodszczęścia Studio is an example of a craft product that successfully competes with mass scale goods. 'Every single element is made by me from beginning to end', says designer Paweł Kozak.
BABY
A memory game
Zuzu Toys, Memory, photo: press materials
These memory cards have colourful pictures associated with folk culture: a cock, a peacock, a cat. Designed by Zuzu Toys, the cards are both in English and Polish.
Author: Agnieszka Sural, translated by MJ 18 Oct 2014, updated by NR, May 2019
design for kids
must have
miuki
agnieszka kwiecińska
bambak
aleksandra trościankowska
alicja patanowska
anna bajor
tobe
michał bogusz
bartosz mucha
poor design
boomini
esy magnesy
Grzegorz Cholewiak
OdRzeczy
hocko
integra toys
aleksandra światowska
agnieszka czop
joanna rusin
kafti design
Protein Design
Katarzyna Herman-Janiec
interiorrecords
klaudia kuhn
minimetry
muc muc
plopp
oskar zięta
pan pepe
pani jurek magda jurek
pilch
robert czajka
ringo
smaga projektanci
szymon hanczar
brambla
woodenstory
woodszczęścia
zuzu toys
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