Why you design playful children’s furniture?
Childhood has been a continuous source of inspiration and serves as the force behind my passion for design. My daughter’s birth and the desire to design for her were a type of rebirth for me, in which I found my calling.
I believe that the environment children grow up in is the ground on which their sensibilities develop, and that childhood should be treasured and celebrated. I believe that children are deserved to grow with products that respect them, well planned to fit their proportion, designed to inspire their imagination and promote their creativity. For me, my work is a mission.
What was your inspiration for your children’s play table Wheelbarrow Table?
The idea behind this kid’s play table was to create a fun playful mobile table (comes with two suitable chairs) that it is both functional and playful. A child can play with it, draw and use its storage for toys. The fact that the table has wheels makes it easy to be moved around.
Are there other products that you produce specifically for children?
YES, over more than two decades this had been my main occupation. My studio specializes in design for children, from hand made products to interior design of public spaces for kids.
Meaningful design for kids – what does that mean for you?
Meaningful design for children is design that encourages the child natural playful approach, promotes creative thinking and enhance fun learning through play.
What toys did you play with as a child? Did you have a favorite toy?
When I was a child, I used to play with the most banal things such as playing in the mud, jump in puddles, but most of all I loved drawing and spent time with my father who was a sculptor.
If you look into a crystal ball and predict your future as a designer: what children’s product would you like to design next?
I would be happy to continue my daily based inspiring work that is creating child-centered public spaces such as: children’s hospitals, libraries, schools and kindergartens but I would also love to develop more accessible products that are mass-produced for all children.
Get in touch with Sarit Shani Hay via:
www.shanihay.com
Photos Roni Cnaani