Werkelkueche Egwuregwu Ụmụaka by Christine Oehme

Werkelkueche Egwuregwu Ụmụaka by Christine Oehme is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Ọlaedo in Nhazi Ngwaahịa Nwa, Ụmụaka na Ụmụntakịrị Competition Category.

ỌlaedoNgwaahịa Nwa· 2021

Werkelkueche Egwuregwu Ụmụaka

by Christine Oehme

Client: Christine Oehme

Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Ọlaedo Winner in Ngwaahịa Nwa Category

58,323

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #123332

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Werkelkueche Egwuregwu Ụmụaka

Werkelkueche bụ ebe arụ ọrụ mepere emepe nke nwoke na-enyere ụmụaka aka imikpu onwe ha na ụwa egwuregwu efu. Ọ na-ejikọta usoro iwu na ihe ịchọ mma nke kichin ụmụaka na oche ọrụ. Ya mere, Werkelkueche na-enye ohere dị iche iche igwu egwu. Enwere ike iji ebe a na-arụ ọrụ plywood gbagọrọ agbagọ dị ka sink, ụlọ ọrụ ma ọ bụ mkpọda ski. Akụkụ dị n'akụkụ nwere ike inye ebe nchekwa na ebe nzuzo ma ọ bụ sie mpịakọta na-ekpo ọkụ. Site n'enyemaka nke ngwá ọrụ ndị mara mma na ndị na-agbanwe agbanwe, ụmụaka nwere ike ịghọta echiche ha ma ṅomie ụwa nke ndị okenye n'ụzọ egwuregwu.

The Recognition

About the Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Ọlaedo

Werkelkueche Egwuregwu Ụmụaka meriri A' Design Award nke Ọlaedo, nnabata dị oke ugwu e nyere design ndị dị n'ọkwa mbụ, dị ịtụnanya ma pụtara ìhè. Ndị meriri na Ọlaedo bụ ihe e kere eke dị oke ọhụrụ, nwere ọhụụ ma na-egbu maramara nke na-egosipụta ọgụgụ isi, amamihe na nka nke ndị designer ha. A na-atụ anya na Werkelkueche Egwuregwu Ụmụaka ga-abụ ihe e mepụtara kacha enweta otuto, na-edu ọnọdụ ma bụrụ ihe ncheta nke na-enye uru na-adịbeghị mgbe ọ bụla. Design a meriri A' Design Award nke Ọlaedo bụ ọrụ dị ebube, a na-asọpụrụ nke na-erite uru buru ibu ma na-ebuga oke nka, sayensị, design na teknụzụ n'ihu. Werkelkueche Egwuregwu Ụmụaka na-eweta mmetụta ọchịchọ siri ike, na-akpali agụụ, na-akwado nzụlite ihe ma na-adọrọ anyị adọrọ.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The ”Werkelkueche” is a gender-open activity workstation for children. It combines the formal and aesthetic features of children's kitchens and workbenches and thus opens up playful possibilities that are beyond gender stereotypes. The curved worktop can be a sink and a ski slope. The side compartments offer storage space or can bake crispy rolls. The interchangeable tools allow children to realize their ideas and imitate the adult world.
Dimensions & Packaging: 710mmx440mm780mm
Tags: children, kids, toy, gendersensitiv, kitchen, workbench, play, moulded wood, sheet steel
Production Technology: The worktop of the ”Werkelkueche” is made of thermally deformable birch plywood from UPM. This material allowed me to give the rigid wood a soft, deep groove. This material is in optical and haptic contrast to the powder-coated sheet steel on the front and rear walls.
Design Challenge: The challenge in the conceptual work was the fusion of existing toys and their design opposites. I wanted to make a design that was recognizable and at the same time completely new. From a technical point of view, the thermal deformation of the birch plywood was a particular challenge. After several weeks of experimentation, I had found the right bend angle and also a way to connect this countertop to the rest of the pieces.
Research: Expert interviews and surveys with parents, the influence of gender in children's worlds, five qualitative interviews with educators and leaders, survey with over 900 individual answers, gender plays a subordinate role in children themselves up to the age of three, but from the point of pregnancy a clear distinction is made between male and female through the social environment, clothing and objects, parents want more so-called gender-neutral things
Inspiration: The world of children is actually colorful, loud and diverse. But this children's world is often divided into gender stereotypical roles: the clothes are either pink or blue, in the toy department mystical fighting ninjas ”for boys” and cute dolls ”for girls” are sold. This suggests to even the youngest children what social images and expectations are placed on girls or boys.
Project Duration: The project started in June 2020 with extensive research with parents and social workers. I developed the Werkelkueche as part of my bachelor thesis at the Berlin University of the Arts. The project was completed in December 2020.
Operation Flow: The ”Werkelkueche” is an open-ended, intuitive play space for children. There the world of adults can be imitated in a playful way, conflicts can be negotiated and security gained: Who am I and how does it feel to slip into another role? These experiences are an essential part of the child’s self-identity.
Patents: Registered Design. No. 402020204285-0001. Christine Oehme. 2021
Image Credits: Image #1: Manuel Meinhardt, Werkelkueche, 2020
Image #2: Manuel Meinhardt, Werkelkueche, 2020
Image #3: Manuel Meinhardt, Werkelkueche, 2020
Image #4: Manuel Meinhardt, Werkelkueche, 2020
Image #5: Manuel Meinhardt, Werkelkueche, 2020