What if a puzzle could turn into a chair, a pouf — or even a rocking animal? With “Animaze”, Studio DesignLibero from Milan has created modular play furniture that invites children to build, combine, sit, store and dream. In this interview, the designers explain how curved wood, soft upholstered elements and animal-inspired forms become an open-ended furniture system that encourages creativity, spatial thinking and open-ended play.
Ekaterina and Libero why you designed your play furniture “Animaze”?
Actually, it was a first time when we designed a project for children, but we are sure that it will not be the last one, because we really enjoyed it! Children are much more creative than adults are and they are the best clients that ever designer may have. Designing products for children is a nice and educational experience for designer. It is pushes you to switch on divergent thinking to find a solution and open your mind. It’s not so easy to design a good product for kids that would not only be pretty and interact them but could be also useful in order to help children to develop essential skills and encourages their creativity.
Tell us more about your inspiration behind “Animaze”?
From early childhood to adulthood, we love to play with puzzles and modular toys. These toys teach and prepare kids early in life for some very important life skills.
In case of Animaze, a puzzle was redesigned to become a kids-friendly furniture system. This playful multifunctional kit allows configuring different kids-friendly furniture combinations, both horizontal and vertical or use the modules separately. Each “animal” is composed of external module made of curved solid wood and an internal foam rubber, fabric covered module. The Animals become chairs, console table, pouf and even rocking horse with which is possible to entertain, interact and dream and discover new way of using elements.
Have you had a chance to try out “Animaze” with children yet?
The project has exceeded all the expectations. Kids love it, and their parents too!
Children enjoy playing with poufs and every time discover new combinations and usage of Animaze elements. We were pleasantly surprised to see how kids find new application to modules, that we probably didn’t think about while working on a project. Kids give vent to the creativity by interacting with “animals” making stories, connections and building everyday something new.
While adults, see the kit also from a functional point of view, as the wooden modules offer storage for books and small toys. Thanks to its modularity, the kit is very useful in small apartments as a space-saving solution and parents appreciate this fact.
If you look into a crystal ball and predict your future as a designer: what children’s product would you like to design next?
Ekaterina I would like to design a kids-friendly hydroponic planter that would show a child how nature works, teach him a responsibility in taking care of something and allow him to participate in all phases of a plant life cycle: from seed to plant. Kids are curios, so this project could be a nice way to evoke in them an interest in sustainability.
Libero Another project that we would really like to work on is a collaborative project between kids and designer, where an idea of a child takes shape thanks to 3d printing technology and some easily found materials or elements such as wooden sticks or plastic tubes. This process allows a kid with a help of experienced designer to build his own toy as the designed it in his mind.
Libero Rutilo and Ekaterina Shchetina, Designer Studio DesignLibero
Contact
Studio DesignLibero vasb@qrfvtayvoreb.pbz
Photos: Claudio Morelli
About the author
Katja Runge studied applied cultural studies, trained as a TV journalist and worked for many years as a communications consultant in the design and creative industries. In 2012, she founded afilii – platform and community for meaningful design for kids. With the Prototypes format, she enables young talents to present their ambitious designs to a wider audience. Katja conducts the interviews herself, edits the answers and puts the finishing touches to the text and images.
This interview was updated in April 2026, first published in June 2017.
