Werkelkueche Ithoyizi by Christine Oehme

Werkelkueche Ithoyizi by Christine Oehme is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 Umklomelo Wegolide we-A' Design Award in Imikhiqizo Yezinsana Competition Category.

IgolideImikhiqizo Yezinsana· 2021

Werkelkueche Ithoyizi

by Christine Oehme

Client: Christine Oehme

Umklomelo Wegolide we-A' Design Award Winner in Imikhiqizo Yezinsana Category

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The Design

About Werkelkueche Ithoyizi

I-Werkelkueche iyindawo yokusebenza evulekele ubulili evumela izingane ukuthi zicwilise emhlabeni wokudlala mahhala. Ihlanganisa izici ezihlelekile nezinhle zamakhishi ezingane namabhentshi okusebenza. Ngakho-ke i-Werkelkueche inikeza amathuba ahlukahlukene okudlala. I-plywood worktop egobile ingasetshenziswa njengosinki, indawo yokusebenzela noma i-ski slope. Amakamelo asemaceleni anganikeza indawo yokugcina nokufihla noma ukubhaka ama-crispy rolls. Ngosizo lwamathuluzi anemibala futhi ashintshekayo, izingane zingakwazi ukubona imibono yazo futhi zilingise izwe labantu abadala ngendlela yokudlala.

The Recognition

About the Umklomelo Wegolide we-A' Design Award

Werkelkueche Ithoyizi iwinile uMklomelo Wegolide we-A' Design Award, ukwaziswa okuhloniphekile kakhulu okunikezwa imiklamo yeklasi yokuqala, emangalisayo nephawulekile. Abawinile beGolide yimiklamo emisha kakhulu, enombono ongaphambili futhi egqamile ebonisa ubuhlakani, ukuhlakanipha nobuchule babaklami babo. Werkelkueche Ithoyizi ilindeleke ukuba ibe yinto entsha edunyiswe kakhulu, ebeka isitayela futhi ebalulekile elethe inani elingakaze libonwe. Lo mklamo owinile uMklomelo Wegolide we-A' Design Award ungumgomo omangalisayo nohlonishwayo osiza kakhulu futhi osunduza imingcele yobuciko, isayensi, ukuklama nobuchwepheshe. Werkelkueche Ithoyizi idala imizwa ejulile yesifiso, ivuse intshiseko, ikhuthaze ukudala futhi iyasiheha.

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