Tell us about your background. How did you become a designer?
As a kid I attended an elementary art school. I developed further my interest in design at a school of applied arts. After high school, I worked briefly in the area of sign-making. Then I continued to study design at an academy. Already during my school years I worked as a freelance designer. I often had to adapt to customers’ requirements and not always to the satisfaction of both parties.
After some time I decided I would work on my projects only, adapting products to my own production options in a D.I.Y. spirit. In addition to creation, I also share the acquired creative and implementing procedures as a teacher of design.
Why you design products for children?
I would not say I am a designer of products for children, but it is true though that playfulness or the function of a toy are some of the factors that influence my work.
What was your inspiration for product the storage cabinet?
I wanted to create a product that does not need a designer, as everyone can be a designer. Not everyone is skilled in software or technology, and so I was looking for a solution to allow a primitive change in appearance. Semantically, functionally and visually the most understandable solution was to use the appearance of a school board.
Suitable design for kids – what does that mean for you?
I believe every toy is good for a child if it develops the child’s creativity, imagination and logical thinking.
A few personal questions at the end: What toys did you play with as a child? Did you have a favorite toy?
As a kid I used to play with the “Merkur” building set, which was a Czechoslovak equivalent of the “Meccano” construction set. Generally, I was attracted to toys I could actually create something from, a sort of “hackable” toys.
Do you feel there is a toy that every child should have (also by other designers and manufacturers)?
One could regard wooden blocks as the simplest and most universal toy of all every child should have.
And subsequently: What toy do you think is a completely superfluous?
I cannot absolutely tell that there is a toy, which is completely redundant, but I would classify toys created as a marketing support of other products as unnecessary.
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