Werkelkueche Dolanan by Christine Oehme is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 A' Design Award Emas in Desain Produk Bayi, Bocah lan Anak Competition Category.

EmasProduk Bayi· 2021

Werkelkueche Dolanan

by Christine Oehme

Client: Christine Oehme

A' Design Award Emas Winner in Produk Bayi 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 Dolanan

Werkelkueche minangka workstation kegiatan sing mbukak jender sing ngidini bocah-bocah bisa nyemplungake awake dhewe ing jagad dolanan gratis. Iki nggabungake fitur formal lan estetis saka pawon lan meja kerja bocah-bocah. Mulane Werkelkueche nawakake macem-macem kemungkinan kanggo muter. Worktop plywood sing mlengkung bisa digunakake minangka sink, bengkel utawa slope ski. Kompartemen sisih bisa nyedhiyakake papan panyimpenan lan ndhelikake utawa nggawe gulungan crispy. Kanthi bantuan alat sing warni lan bisa diganti, bocah-bocah bisa mujudake ide lan niru jagad wong diwasa kanthi cara dolanan.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Emas

Werkelkueche Dolanan menang A' Design Award Emas, pangenalan sing prestisius banget sing diparingake marang desain kelas siji, nggumunake lan unggul. Pemenang Emas iku ciptaan sing inovatif banget, visioner lan sumunar nggumunake sing nggambarake kejeniusan, kawicaksanan lan kaprigelan para desainer. Werkelkueche Dolanan dikarepake dadi panemuan sing dipuji banget, pelopor tren lan monumental sing nyedhiyakake nilai sing durung tau ana. Desain sing menang A' Design Award Emas iki iku proyek sing nggumunake lan dihormati sing paring manfaat gedhe lan nyurung maju wates seni, sains, desain lan teknologi. Werkelkueche Dolanan nuwuhake perasaan kekarepan sing kuwat, nggugah semangat, nyengkuyung kreativitas lan narik kawigaten kita.

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