All posts filed under: Things for Kids

My Football Kit by Nendo

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Inflatable soccer balls are hard to maintain in impoverished communities because of the unavailability of air pumps or the deterioration and damage of the tube inside the ball. In response, Japanese design firm Nendo has designed a non-inflatable soccer ball that gives the same kicking sensation as a standard ball. Inspired by the structure of the traditional Japanese woven bamboo ball, the My Football Kit is assembled with three types of components and includes a total of 54 parts. The instructions for assembly are designed like a picture book in easily understood illustrations. Instead of relying on internal air pressure, the ball uses the resilience of its surface material, soft, recycled polypropylene and elastomeric synthetic resin components, to bounce. The material won’t hurt bare feet and is unlikely to develop a sharp fractured surface that might cause injury, even if broken. If a component comes off during play, the interlocking structure ensures the ball will not disassemble. Components may be shipped in disassembled states in compact packages, potentially cutting shipping costs. The ball comes in multiple colors, …

New Puzzles from MoMA Design Store

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It’s summer and the living is … mostly at home. If you are looking for a new way to keep your family busy (and sane) during social distancing, you might like to check out these new puzzle designs available through the MoMA Design Store. The 500-piece Andy Warhol double-sided Marilyn puzzle is actually two puzzles in one, featuring two different versions of Warhol’s iconic Marilyn Monroe silkscreen, with a matte side and a glossy side. Several versions of Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe artwork are in MoMA’s collection. The puzzle greyboard contains 90% recycled paper and it measures 18” x 24”. $16.00 The Architecture Building Set was originally designed by Italian artist, designer, and inventor Bruno Munari in 1945. Made in Italy, the new edition allows players to create miniature buildings in 66 wooden blocks made from unhewn beechwood. The enclosed booklet has over 60 building examples to try to replicate. Recommended for ages 12+. $80.00 The 1000-piece Moon and The Earth puzzles were designed by Toronto-based puzzle maker Lindsay Stead in collaboration with NASA Image. The …

Plush Vivacious Vegetables

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These new plush veggie toys are exactly what the world needs right now. Available through the MoMA Design Store, the super-soft Plush Vivacious Vegetables are crafted by the London-based brand Jellycat and include a bell pepper, carrot, leek, onion, and eggplant made of polyester and cotton. Whenever you start to feel stressed, try to imagine a baby chewing on this adorable little onion, or a toddler cuddling up with that little smiling leek at bedtime. It’s better than Xanax. $12.50 each       Joining the veggies are the bipedal Plush Flower Plants ($25.00 each) that were also introduced at the MoMA Design Store Spring 2020 preview earlier this year. All images courtesy MoMA Design Store.

Woolsey Shuffleboard Table

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I’m a huge fan of shuffleboard tables, and can spend hours playing against someone else or even myself. Earlier this year, California craftsman Sean Woolsey launched the Woolsey Shuffleboard Table for fans of the puck sliding game. The handcrafted table features a rift sawn white oak top with two coats of UV-resistant epoxy resin for durability. Black walnut is inlaid as the playing lines and numbers to contrast with the white oak and tie in with the solid walnut legs. The gutters are lined with an industrial charcoal gray felt while hidden levelers are concealed under the top and in the legs. The steel-framed table also comes with four white and four black pucks, plenty of shuffleboard “salt” (wax, powder, and sand) and a magnetic wall mount to hold the pucks when not in use. Each table comes in black and white, comes in 10′ to 16′ sizes, and is built-to-order in six to nine weeks. The table is available from Sean Woolsey Studio starting from $10,000. All of the studio’s products, ranging from lounge …

DIY Shark and Diver Models

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The accessories brand Kontextür has introduced two new model kits created by the Brooklyn-based designer Matt Cavanaugh. Shark and Diver feature flat pieces of vinyl and plastic screws that come in an accordian-style package with graphic step-by-step assembly instructions. So will you be the shark or the diver? ($39.50 each or $79 for the set) Images courtesy of Kontextür.

Little Free Library Design Competition

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A competition to design a new version of the Little Free Library touches on two of my favorite things in the world — product design and books. If you aren’t familiar with Little Free Libraries, they are small containers that are installed in front yards, community centers, and public spaces all over to world to help people exchange books for free. There are nearly 40,000 of these structures worldwide, and Chronicle Books. Little Free Library, and AIA SF are inviting architects and designers to rethink the structure and solve some problems cited by users in the field. Challenges that the new design should try to overcome include keeping the doors shut, making it accessible at night, keeping it water-tight and heatproof, and perhaps my favorite, serving small children and tall adults alike. The jury includes architects, editors, and designers, and the prizes include an architecture library from Chronicle Books and other goodies. If I designed one, I’d love a little solar panel on top that lights it up at night when the door opens and …