Playtime!: Kartell launches its first ever kids collection at Salone del Mobile

Italian brand Kartell are launching their first ever kids design collection at this year’s Salone del Mobile.
Italian brand Kartell are launching their first ever kids design collection at this year’s Salone del Mobile. Pictured: ’H-horse’, by Nendo
(Image credit: press)
By Sujata Burman
last updated

At last year's Salone del Mobile, Italian stalwarts Kartell travelled back in time to pay tribute one of the forefathers of Italian design, Ettore Sottsass. For 2016, they are taking it back again, but this time in scale and age with the launch of an inaugural kids collection.

This isn't the first time the Italian brand has toyed with the concept of children’s furniture. The first entirely plastic Kartell '4999' chair by Marco Zanuso and Richard Sapper – created back in 1964 – was intended for kids, while 'Sistema Scuola' by Centrokappa also tapped into this smaller world. Over 50 years later, the Milanese brand is revisiting the idea with these 'toys for living' that nod to the fun aesthetics of Kartell’s lively collections.

The company chose from their star-studded list of international designers for this first haul of whimsical plastic silhouettes, all in pastel and pop hues. In keeping with simplisitic styles, Japanese designer Nendo created a transparent curvaceous rocking horse alongside 'smile' stools; Philippe Starck presents a streamlined 'Airway' swing; Piero Lissoni provides a toy car and tractor; and Ferruccio Laviani, a vibrant games table.

‘As well as being functional, our products are intrinsically playful, fun and engaging’ says Claudio Luti, president of Kartell. The new kids line allowed the designers to experiment in an area that they perhaps have not before, engaging with a younger audience. Where Nendo approached his stools with the idea of the emotion of a smile, creating a face in the imprint of the seat, Laviani got into the youthful mindset for his building game, which he describes as 'trying to approach their world more than ours'.

In full celebration of the launch, the brand is also bringing back its loved icons in a new child friendly palette, as seen in Ron Arad's 'Bookworm' and Giulio Polvara's modular bookcase. They are also providing a customisation service, adding names and drawings to the 'Lou Lou Ghost' or 'FL/Y' lamp – a little added interactive design fun for smaller people to enjoy.

Testa Calda’ tractor and ’Discovolante’ car

Described as ’toys for living’, the company chose from a star-studded list of international designers for their first haul of whimsical plastic silhouettes, all in pastel and pop hues. Pictured: Piero Lissoni’s ’Testa Calda’ tractor and ’Discovolante’ car

(Image credit: press)

Philippe Starck's streamlined 'Airway' swing, available in in clear or opaque polycarbonate

Philippe Starck’s streamlined ’Airway’ swing, available in in clear or opaque polycarbonate

(Image credit: press)

Ferruccio Laviani has designed a vibrant building game table that required him to tap into a youthful psyche – ’trying to approach their world more than ours’

Ferruccio Laviani has designed a vibrant building game table that required him to tap into a youthful psyche – ’trying to approach their world more than ours’

(Image credit: press)

For his stools face as the imprint on the seat

For his stools, Nendo’s Oki Sato was inspired by the shape of a smile, creating a face as the imprint on the seat

(Image credit: press)

’H-horse’, by Nendo

’As well as being functional, our products are intrinsically playful, fun and engaging,’ says Claudio Luti, president of Kartell. Pictured: ’H-horse’, by Nendo

(Image credit: press)

’Testa Calda’ tractor, by Piero Lissoni

In full celebration of the launch, the brand are also bringing back beloved icons in new, child-friendly palettes, such as 'Bookworm' by Ron Arad and modular bookcase by Giulio Polvara. Pictured: 'Testa Calda' tractor, by Piero Lissoni

(Image credit: press)

’FL/Y’ lamp & ’Lou Lou Ghost’ chair

In addition to the new collection, Kartell are also providing a customisation service with names and drawings to be added to the ’Lou Lou Ghost’ or the ’FL/Y’ lamp, for added interactive touches. Pictured left: customised ’FL/Y’ lamp, by Ferruccio Laviani. Right: customised ’Lou Lou Ghost’ chair, by Philippe Starck

(Image credit: press)

INFORMATION

For more information, visit Kartell’s website

Topics
Italy Kartell Ron Arad Salone Del Mobile Smallpaper* Nendo Philippe Starck Piero Lissoni
Sujata Burman

Sujata Burman is a writer and editor based in London, specialising in design and culture. She was Digital Design Editor at Wallpaper* before moving to her current role of Head of Content at London Design Festival and London Design Biennale where she is expanding the content offering of the showcases. Over the past decade, Sujata has written for global design and culture publications, and has been a speaker, moderator and judge for institutions and brands including RIBA, D&AD, Design Museum and Design Miami/. In 2019, she co-authored her first book, An Opinionated Guide to London Architecture, published by Hoxton Mini Press, which was driven by her aim to make the fields of design and architecture accessible to wider audiences. 

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