A comprehensive, genre-defining survey of children's product and furniture design from Bauhaus to today

Design for Children, a must-have book for all style-conscious and design-savvy readers, documents the evolution of design for babies, toddlers, and beyond. The book spotlights more than 450 beautiful, creative, stylish, and clever examples of designs created exclusively for kids - from toys, furniture, and tableware, to textiles, lights, and vehicles.

Contemporary superstars and twentieth-century masters, including Philippe Starck, Nendo, Marc Newson, Piero Lissoni, Kengo Kuma, and Marcel Wanders, are showcased.

About the Author

Kimberlie Birks is a New York-based design writer and editor. Born in Montreal, she studied art history at Brown University and design criticism at the School of Visual Arts, where she wrote a graduate thesis on playground design. Her writing has featured in Dwell, Domus, Metropolis, and Azure.

Reviews

"For older, design-savvy and style-conscious kids or those interested in product, lighting and furniture design."-City Kids

"At a time when the market for well-made, innovative objects for children is undergoing a transformative, and global explosion, Design for Children documents the evolution of craftsmanship, exceptional production and modern aesthetics throughout this increasingly important field of design."-AbsolutelyMama.co.uk

"Catalogues 450 of the most enduring designs created exclusively for children."-Western Living Magazine

"Elegant, radical, fun: Children's toys that even adults will cherish."-CNN Style

"Design for Children outlines the history of children's design through seven categories: Play, Ride, Learn, Eat, Create, Sit, and Sleep. By spotlighting more than 450 designs created exclusively for children (toys, furniture, tableware, textiles, lights, vehicles, and more) this book thoroughly explores the benefit of thoughtful child-centric design."-Metropolis Online

"A 536-page history lesson on child-oriented design... Preserve[s] the timeless designs of yesteryear and promote[s] the quality ones that still exist today."-Cool Hunting

"Gorgeous."-Fortune

"[A] vibrant compendium."-Financial Times

"Oodles of creations... Should excite design-conscious parents."-Totally Dublin (Ireland)

"This book is a perfect reminder of the joy of the season, featuring more than 450 of the most creative and clever designs for kids. With toys dating back nearly a century, the book is bound to bring back childhood memories."-Azure Magazine Online

"Everything wonderful designed for kids over the past 100 years, in a book one can't help but wish were a catalog."-Curbed

"A delightful encyclopedia of childhood toys and objects that shaped us. Props for including non-Western toys."-Quartz

Book Information
ISBN 9780714875194
Author Kimberlie Birks
Format Hardback
Page Count 536
Imprint Phaidon Press Ltd
Publisher Phaidon Press Ltd
Weight(grams) 2064g
Dimensions(mm) 245mm * 210mm * 41mm