Gumbek Didaktična igrača by Lea Vavra is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2024 Bronasta nagrada A' Design Award in Oblikovanje igrač, iger in izdelkov za prosti čas Competition Category.

BronastaIgrače· 2024

Gumbek Didaktična igrača

by Lea Vavra

Client: Kistra

Bronasta nagrada A' Design Award Winner in Igrače Category

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Colors

The Design

About Gumbek Didaktična igrača

Gumbek je didaktična plišasta igrača, ki spodbuja ustvarjalnost in razvoj fine motorike skozi igro. Ta modularna igrača je sestavljena iz delov in otroci morajo svojo igračo sestaviti sami, tako da povežejo dele skupaj in ustvarijo celoto. Obstaja sedem različnih segmentov; trije večji in štirje manjši. Deli so med seboj povezani z navleko gumbov skozi gumbnice, kar pomaga izboljšati fino motoriko. Poleg tega razporeditev različnih oblik pomaga razvijati domišljijo in ustvarjalnost, saj lahko igračo sestavimo na različne načine.

The Recognition

About the Bronasta nagrada A' Design Award

Gumbek Didaktična igrača je prejemnik Bronaste nagrade A' Design Award, zelo prestižnega priznanja, ki se podeljuje izjemnim oblikovanjem, ki se odlikujejo po ustvarjalnosti, iznajdljivosti in bistrosti. Prejemniki Bronaste nagrade so v celoti spretni in presenetljivo ustvarjalni artefakti, ki potrjujejo bogate izkušnje, domišljijo in zvitost svojih oblikovalcev. Od Gumbek Didaktična igrača se pričakuje, da bo visoko cenjen, občudovan in ljubljen predmet, opazno profesionalen in inovativen. To oblikovanje, nagrajeno z Bronasto nagrado A' Design Award, vključuje najboljše prakse v umetnosti, znanosti, oblikovanju in tehnologiji ter je odlično po pozornosti do podrobnosti. Gumbek Didaktična igrača sijajno zadovoljuje potrebe, se dotika želja, očara čustva in vzbuja radovednost.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: Gumbeki are modular plush toys that stimulate creativity and enhance motor skills through play. Each toy consists of seven parts which children connect to each other by buttons in order to create a whole, which helps improve fine motor skills. The parts are made of colorful materials with different textures so they provide a good stimulus for the development of sensory integration. The arrangement of different shapes helps to develop imagination as the toy can be put together in lots of ways.
Dimensions & Packaging: SMALL SIZE GUMBEKI
17 x 17 x 15 cm, packaging approximately 20 x 20 x 20 cm
MEDIUM SIZE GUMBEKI
27 x 27 x 24 cm, packaging approximately 30 x 30 x 30 cm
LARGE SIZE GUMBEKI
36 x 36 x 33 cm, packaging approximately 40 x 40 x 40 cm
Tags: toy, soft toy, plush, didactic, educational, creative, children
Production Technology: I wanted to make a soft toy that kids could assemble themselves so I created a plushie that consists of several different parts that can be connected to each other with buttons. All of these parts are handmade. The fabric pieces are cut by hand, pinned together and sewn on a sewing machine. After that, they are turned over and stuffed. The hole left after stuffing is sewn shut by hand. The buttonholes are sewn on a sewing machine. The final step is to sew the buttons, which is also done by hand.
Design Challenge: I noticed a lack of emotional connection to toys in today's children, which is important for their development. Also, parents are increasingly giving kids activities on screens that can be harmful to children's physical development if used excessively. I wanted to create a soft toy that kids would connect to emotionally, but I also wanted them to learn an activity through play. Didactic toys are mostly made of hard materials, so it was a challenge creating a one with a soft tactile experience.
Research: Through the review of various literatures I researched the topics such as the history and different types of play, typology of toys, cultural differences, the impact and importance of playing for children's physical and emotional development etc. I also conducted two surveys on 200 parents about kids playing habits today and the importance of childhood toys. I found that children today have a large number of toys that often quickly bore them because they do not stimulate their development.
Inspiration: My grandmother, Ruzica Vavra, had one of the first toy productions and toy stores in Croatia. Her popular stuffed toys brought joy to many generations, but unfortunately the store was closed due to the arrival of global manufacturers on our market. I have always been inspired by that story, and after finishing my education at the Faculty of Architecture - School of Design, I decided to revive the family tradition from a designer's aspect, creating smart toys, stimulating for kids development.
Project Duration: The project started in 2016. in Zagreb, Croatia and finished in 2018. when it was put on the Croatian market and exhibited in numerous exhibits, festivals and fairs, such as Zagreb Design Week or Exhibition of Croatian design 1718.
Operation Flow: This modular toy comes in parts and kids have to assemble their own toy by connecting the parts to one another. There are seven different segments; three larger ones with buttons and buttonholes sew, and four smaller ones with just buttonholes. The pieces are attached together by threading the buttons through the buttonholes. There are lots of different ways of putting them together, but for those children who view the toy as a puzzle there is an assemby scheme for the way we imagined them.
Image Credits: Image #1 : Photographer Lea Vavra, Gumbeki, 2022.
Image #2 : Photographer Lea Vavra, Gumbek - warm, 2022.
Image #3 : Photographer Lea Vavra, Gumbek - cold, 2022.
Image #4 : Photographer Lea Vavra, Gumbek - earthy, 2022.
Image #5 : Photographer Lea Vavra, Gumbek assembly variations, 2022.