Joy of Playing Te Whakaahua o te Waitohu by Squared

Joy of Playing Te Whakaahua o te Waitohu by Squared is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2022 A' Design Award Parahi in Hoahoa Whakairoiro, Whakaahua Ringa me te Whakawhitiwhiti Ataata Competition Category.

ParahiWhakairoiro· 2022

Joy of Playing Te Whakaahua o te Waitohu

by Squared

Client: Balin

A' Design Award Parahi Winner in Whakairoiro Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #140424

Tūhura Ināianei View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Joy of Playing Te Whakaahua o te Waitohu

Ko Te Koa o te Tākaro he waitohu tuakiri i hangaia mō Balin, he kamupene e hanga taonga tākaro ana mā ngā tamariki. Ka whakauru te tuakiri i te waitohu, ngā rawa waitohu, te kōpaki me ngā tae me ngā āhua o ngā taonga tākaro me ngā tangata whakaari. He ngāwari te reo ataata, me ngā āhua ngāwari, he papatohu tae kua whakaitihia, me ngā whakaahua wai-tae. Kei tēnā kei tēnā tangata whakaari he ingoa me tētahi kōrero, e āwhina ana i ngā tamariki ki te hanga hononga kare-ā-roto. Ko ngā rawa kua tīpakohia ko te rākau, papa rākau papatahi, pepa, miro parauri taiao me ngā peita i ahu mai i te wai me te tipu.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Parahi

Ko Joy of Playing Te Whakaahua o te Waitohu te toa o te A' Design Award Parahi, he whakaaetanga tino whai mana e hoatu ana ki ngā hoahoa kōeke e tohua ana mā te auaha, te mahi mōhio me te whakaaro hōhonu. Ko ngā toa Parahi he mahi pukenga e rite ana, he auaha mīharo, e whakatūturu ana i te wheako nui, te whakaaro me te mōhio-ā-ringa o ā rātou kaihoahoa. E tūmanakohia ana ko Joy of Playing Te Whakaahua o te Waitohu he taonga whakanuia, whakamīharotia, aroha nui, he ngaio, he auaha hoki. Ko tēnei hoahoa i toa i te Parahi e whakauru ana i ngā tikanga pai rawa i te toi, te pūtaiao, te hoahoa me te hangarau, ā, he tino mīharo ki ngā taipitopito. Ka whakatutuki a Joy of Playing Te Whakaahua o te Waitohu i ngā hiahia, ka pā ki ngā hiahia, ka whakaoho i ngā kare-ā-roto, ā, ka kume i te pākiki.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: Balin is a brand offering beautifully crafted toys that educate, inspire and delight.

We developed all aspects of their communication: from the design of their logo and branding assets to the colors and shapes of their toys and characters... and then we brought them to life in a series of charming illustrations. Each character has a name and story behind, helping to build an emotional connection with children.
Tags: branding, brandidentity, visualcommunication, graphicdesign, kids, empathy, emotionalconnection, illustration, craft, design
Production Technology: All materials, as well as for the toys production, as well as for the branding and packaging used are selected from the highest quality sustainable, harmless and recyclable. Wood, plywood, harmless water and plant based paints, paper, organic cotton.
Design Challenge: The hardest to achieve was the balance between minimalism, plain shapes, a reduced color scheme and at the same time giving a positive, child appealing look and cuteness of the products and identity.
Research: The research we performed was not that much design based, but we explored some topics that are related to the brand purpose: Active Play and its physical, cognitive and emotional benefits on children; Social Awareness and how to foster knowledge about environmental issues through play experience, Emotional Intelligence and the importance of social and emotional skills that children of today lack.
Inspiration: Balin is a brand with purpose.

Their aim is to promote healthy active play, develop social and emotional skills and foster knowledge about the environment through fun and engaging play experience.

They needed an identity, look and feel coherent with their brand purpose, values and beliefs. That is why we developed an authentic, positive and fun visual language based on minimalistic aesthetics and topped with heartmelting aquarelle illustrations.
Project Duration: The process of creating the whole visual style of product and visual communication was long and exhaustive, starting from mid 2020 and finished somewhere late 2021.
Operation Flow: All toy characters have a name and story behind, helping to build an emotional connection with children. They are further brought to life in a series of charming aquarelle illustrations.
Team Members: Creative Director - Yana Okoliyska