Werkelkueche Yokudlala by Christine Oehme

Werkelkueche Yokudlala by Christine Oehme is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 Ibhaso Legolide le-A' Design Award in Uyilo lweeMveliso zeentsana, abaNtwana kunye nabaNcinane Competition Category.

IgolideIimveliso zeentsana· 2021

Werkelkueche Yokudlala

by Christine Oehme

Client: Christine Oehme

Ibhaso Legolide le-A' Design Award Winner in Iimveliso zeentsana Category

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Colors

The Design

About Werkelkueche Yokudlala

I-Werkelkueche yindawo yokusebenzela evuleleke ngokwesini eyenza ukuba abantwana bazintywilisele kwihlabathi lokudlala simahla. Idibanisa iimpawu ezisesikweni kunye nobuhle beekhikhini zabantwana kunye neebhentshi zokusebenza. Ke ngoko iWerkelkueche ibonelela ngeendlela ezahlukeneyo zokudlala. Umphezulu weplywood ogobileyo ungasetyenziswa njenge sinki, iworkshop okanye i ski slope. Amacandelo asecaleni anokubonelela ngokugcina kunye nokufihla indawo okanye ukubhaka i-crispy rolls. Ngoncedo lwezixhobo ezinemibala kunye neziguquguqukayo, abantwana banokuqonda iingcamango zabo kwaye baxelise ihlabathi labantu abadala ngendlela yokudlala.

The Recognition

About the Ibhaso Legolide le-A' Design Award

Werkelkueche Yokudlala ngumphumeleli weIbhaso Legolide le-A' Design Award, ukuqatshelwa okuhlonitshwayo kakhulu okunikwa imiyilo yeklasi yokuqala, ephawulekayo nentle. Abaphumeleleyo beGolide ziimveliso ezintsha kakhulu, ezinombono ongaphaya nezikhazimlayo ezibonisa ubuchule, ubulumko nobuchule babayili bazo. Werkelkueche Yokudlala iyathenjwa ukuba ibe yimveliso edunyiswe kakhulu, ebeka umkhwa nekumgangatho wesikhumbuzo enikela ixabiso elingazange libonwe. Lo myilo uphumeleleyo weIbhaso Legolide le-A' Design Award yiprojekthi emangalisayo nehlonelwayo eluncedo kakhulu kwaye inyusa imida yobugcisa, inzululwazi, uyilo kunye nobuchwephesha. Werkelkueche Yokudlala idala iimvakalelo ezinzulu zonqweno, ivusa umdla, ikhuthaza ukuyila kwaye iyasikhwebela.

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