Werkelkueche Hračka by Christine Oehme is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 Zlatá cena A' Design Award in Detské produkty Competition Category.

ZlatáDetské produkty· 2021

Werkelkueche Hračka

by Christine Oehme

Client: Christine Oehme

Zlatá cena A' Design Award Winner in Detské produkty Category

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Verified Award Winner

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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Werkelkueche Hračka

Werkelkueche je rodovo otvorená pracovná stanica, ktorá umožňuje deťom ponoriť sa do sveta voľnej hry. Spája v sebe formálne a estetické vlastnosti detských kuchyniek a pracovných stolov. Werkelkueche preto ponúka rôzne možnosti hry. Zakrivenú pracovnú dosku z preglejky možno použiť ako drez, dielňu alebo zjazdovku. Bočné priehradky môžu poskytnúť úložný a úkrytový priestor alebo piecť chrumkavé rolky. Pomocou farebných a vymeniteľných pomôcok môžu deti realizovať svoje nápady a hravou formou napodobňovať svet dospelých.

The Recognition

About the Zlatá cena A' Design Award

Werkelkueche Hračka je laureát Zlatej ceny A' Design Award, nesmierne prestížneho uznania udeľovaného prvotriednym, úžasným a vynikajúcim dizajnom. Laureáti Zlatej ceny sú mimoriadne inovatívne, vizionárske a žiarivo oslnivé výtvory, ktoré odrážajú génia, múdrosť a majstrovstvo svojich dizajnérov. Od Werkelkueche Hračka sa očakáva, že bude vysoko chváleným, trendotvorným a monumentálnym vynálezom, ktorý prináša bezprecedentnú hodnotu. Tento dizajn ocenený Zlatou cenou A' Design Award je pôsobivé, rešpektované dielo, ktoré vo veľkej miere prináša úžitok a posúva hranice umenia, vedy, dizajnu a technológie. Werkelkueche Hračka vyvoláva intenzívne pocity túžby, prebúdza vášeň, povzbudzuje kreativitu a fascinuje nás.

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