Skip to content
B a r b a r a Schneider

GermanyToy

Interviews with B a r b a r a Schneider

Read the interviews with B a r b a r a Schneider: understand their philosophy, creative process and award-winning work.

Designer Profile

Design Interview

My Travel Guide MUNICH Travel Guide for Kids · 20 questions

Principle : A TOY / ART 4 Kids. Idea: Narrative toy : Visualizing our world cultures playfully for the youngest travelers and citizens and forcing their creativity and joy to play. Inspiration: Own and foreign cultures .

What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?

Principle : A TOY / ART 4 Kids.

Idea: Narrative toy : Visualizing our world cultures playfully for the youngest travelers and citizens and forcing their creativity and joy to play.

Inspiration: Own and foreign cultures .

What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?

Aim : Designing an interesting and joyful toy , which is practical , comfortable and easy to handle for babies - toddlers . The main idea is a soft cloth/fabric design .The toys stimulate creativity , memory, and recognition and force communication of new things playfully .

What are your future plans for this award winning design?

Selling the ART 4 Kids , the original illustrations and / or leasing the production rights ( re- productions) ,coperation and collaborations with toy companies or publishers , art / design institutions , realizing other designs and design variations , etc.

How long did it take you to design this particular concept?

Duration of developing the main concept and realization of the soft cloth book was about a few weeks. The main idea has been continued also by creating the cubes and other product variations .

Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?

Own initiative , being inspired to discuss the subject " souvenirs " caused by a souvenir design contest in 2004 .

Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?

It is NOT produced or used by another company .

Interest in selling or leasing the originals and /or the production rights as well as developing and realizing other My Travel Guides and product variations .

What made you design this particular type of work?

Being interested in toys , art 4 kids, travels, foreign cultures and traditions and in designing creative

and playful "souvenirs " for mini - travelers, visualizing our world cultures playfully .

Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?

NO . No team .

Who is the target customer for his design?

International children and their parents and friends ; mini- travelers, babies- toddlers (main idea: soft cloth/ fabric designs ) ; art and toy - lovers

What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?

good concept ( main idea soft cloth designs for toddlers/ mini travelers ) , flexible concept, , opportunity to develop design variations ( material , target group , etc.), "timeless"; forcing creativity and communication playfully, provoking interest in own and foreign cultures and traditions , art ,nature and activities

How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?

My ( first) Travel Guide ...... : flexible design name / title for each country and city .

Our would cultures & cities : used as a subtitle for the products , taking into consideration the possibility to combine diverse " cultures" ( memory , domino, etc.)

Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?

Realization of the TOYS / ART 4 KIDS : My Travel Guide Munich and My Travel Guide Korea .

Design Tools : handmade illustrations ( e.g. colored pencils, tempera) , Corel Draw , digital transfer printing , sewing

What is the most unique aspect of your design?

Creative and comfortable designs for mini- travelers .

Children playing : forcing individual experiences , memories , imaginations , recognition , communications

Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?

Nobody. Not yet !

What is the role of technology in this particular design?

Technology : materials , production , print process , presentation of the design .

Design Variations : digital presentation .

Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?

General Research : certainly- our world cultures, discussion of main characteristics of our own and foreign cultures and traditions ,literature , architecture/ arts , which could be useful and satisfying for kids ,own experiences , travel, childhood studies , children toys and literature , " observation" of tourists using travel guides , souvenirs , babies- toddlers reading picture books ( baby carriage) .

What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?

Achieving good quality design / TOY / ART 4 KIDS .

How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?

How? Why ? Joining the World of Toys !

The realized ART 4 KIDS , My Travel Guide Korea and My Travel Guide Munich has been succesfully displayed in international art and art- book exhibitions . This international design competition " discusses and evaluates " the designs as TOYS / designs . Furthermore, this Design contest has the aim to offer professional contacts , publicity and professional communication .

The developed concept is a design/ art concept .

The presentation of the design variations ( memory , domino and the sketch) were not specially made for the contest . These were only additional sheets- informal sheets- , which underlines the written conception .

What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?

main idea , concept , .......but the realization and production always take much more time ....,

Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?

Taking further interest in designing TOYS / Art 4 kids . Thank you for your attention .

Designer Interview

23 questions

I am a freelance designer, illustrator, and multiple-disciplinary visual artist. My main interests are art & design, toys, children´s literature, fashion & textiles.

Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?

I am a freelance designer, illustrator, and multiple-disciplinary visual artist.

My main interests are art & design, toys, children´s literature, fashion & textiles. I am always interested in new collaborations and art & design projects and to "join a dream team".

B a r b a r a Schneider @artavita.com

https://artrepreneur.com/p/BarbaraSchneider

What is "design" for you?

A short reply: "Design"- a quality product with a certain purpose and function, which improves our way of living - modern world - and state of art.

What was the first thing you designed for a company?

Cooking gloves! Actually, there was a call for designs, published on the blackboard of the University. I realized my ideas and submitted my designs: a serial of "animals", http://bit.ly/2f13oaP. A few weeks later, I received a message from the company that I was the only participant and that they cannot give me a prize, but they DO like the designs and they would like to buy the animal collection: My first sale was made. Unfortunately, no production, but licensing and production are still possible.

In 1988, I made some illustrations for Golfino Moden as a freelancer (briefing) and created some illustrations for their knitwear design collection.

What is your favorite material / platform / technology?

... paper, textiles, wood, new and alternatives materials, and other materials, photography, passion for printing, ........

When do you feel the most creative?

peaceful & comfortable environment

What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?

Happiness!

A suitable quotation is: "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." Confucius

What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?

More happiness and of course more pleasure to continue designing.

From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?

Summarized: Enriching our way of living and state of art with "wonderful objects and concepts", cultivating and spreading humanity/ human rights ( i.e.: healthy and no harmful products, no child labor), and saving our planet as much as possible.

How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?

Some catchwords: new technologies and in contrast more cultivation or integration of traditional things/products and materials and the environment: new ideas to save our planet and enrich our lives, more up-cycling than recycling, objects with multiple functions, more comfort, simplicity/ minimalism, entertainment, communication and education, smaller and lighter objects ...

Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?

Subjects: Discussion of our modern life, daily life, literature, history of art and design, humanity, and recycling-upcycling.

Source of inspiration: imagination, own experiences, own art/design/photographs, studies, "lack of satisfaction"/ desire, traveling & research, music, and more

How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?

Contemporary and abstract art.

Modern design.

Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?

In general, the cultural heritage of Germany is interesting, thinking of art, craft, design, and architecture. It was a pleasure to discuss the Bavarian culture to create "My Travel Guide Munich" and it would be also a joyful challenge to discuss further “cultures & cities”. Nevertheless, I preferred/prefer to work & live "abroad".

Freedom of Art is very important.

Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?

Some suggestions are: "forcing" own creativity daily, discussion of the history of art and/ or design, cultivating kind of sketchbooks, questioning the state of living, etc.

From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?

It is a great pleasure and a wonderful passion and challenge.

Opportunity to work internationally and worldwide.

What is your "golden rule" in design?

Necessity: freedom of art and design, imagination, passion, confidence, curiosity, research, purpose, good concept, functionality, humanity, eco-friendly as much as possible.

What skills are most important for a designer?

Imagination, good sketching/drawing skills, 3D visual thinking abilities, knowledge of / interest in materials and technologies, good communication skills (presenting design, collaboration with a team or certain specialists).

Who are some of your clients?

Michigan Hospital/Gifts of Art Project, Manville Arts Council, Carol Simon Levin, Women’s Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal, The Drum Literary Magazine, VIVA TV GmbH, Boltze Bazar GmbH & Co., Twelve Stars Communication Ltd., Triangle, J. A. Halbritter, Grosselfinger & Partner, Golfino AG, Zuhause, F.A.Z./ Golf International, Kirstein GmbH, Kulturforum Alte Post Neuss,

Art Lovers & Art Collectors

What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?

.....sketching, illustrations, concepts, art 4 kids/ toys (soft cloth), fashion & textiles, all kinds of textile products, other

What are your future plans? What is next for you?

Creating good quality designs like art 4 kids/ toys and fashion, art and other products, continuing to enrich knowledge and skills, joining a dream team and/or new creative collaborations, moving to a good/ better place.....

Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?

Own independent art & design projects, independent Limited Editions (art/design- production), sales, participation of diverse art & design projects.

Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?

Ongoing independent project: A Coloring book!

How can people contact you?

I would like to suggest that first contacts are best via e-mail and the main websites.

E-mail: Sbarbara415@aol.com; http://www.coroflot.com/barbaraschneider

http://www.saatchionline.com/schneider

Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?

No. Thank you.

Keep Reading

More Designer Interviews

Read designers.org interviews to discover the philosophy, the creative process and the work of more award-winning designers.

Sponsored

Explore Beyond Designers.org

Discover products, services and opportunities from our advertising partners.

Good Design Deserves Great Recognition

The A' Design Award is an international, juried accolade for good design. Take part in the A' Design Award to get an opportunity to earn meritocratic recognition, gain fame, prestige and publicity for your work. Nominate your work for the A' Design Award and compete for the coveted A' Design Prize.

Nominate

Data Source

The design interview data shown in our design interview page with B a r b a r a Schneider regarding My Travel Guide MUNICH Travel Guide for Kids comes from the Design Interviews platform, where leading designers, architects and brands are interviewed regarding their award-winning designs, products and projects.