Six insights from our sit down at Centre Pompidou
The role of design in raising confident kids
Tripp Trapp® has been featured at Centre Pompidou for the summer of 2024 as part of The Childhood of Design: A Century of Furniture for Children exhibition.
To commemorate its inclusion, Stokke® CEO Jacob Kragh was joined for a discussion by Marie-Ange Brayer, one of the co-curators of the exhibition and head of the Design and Industrial Prospective Department at Centre Pompidou, as well as Grégroire Borst, Professor of Developmental Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience of Education at the University of Paris. Moderated by Brand Communication Director Marijke Coopmans, the conversation explored the links between children’s role in society, the design of children’s furniture, and childhood development.
Marie-Ange sets the scene for this intriguing conversation, saying: "Children's furniture has played a significant role in design history, often embraced by designers as a field for experimentation due to its adaptable, multifunctional, and flexible nature. It's always evolving, and it reflects the dynamic nature of childhood.”
Watch the full video here or read the six thought-provoking ideas which emerged during their discussion below.
1. Children’s furniture design is dynamic and continually evolving
Children’s furniture design came into its own in the early 20th century, influenced by industrial design and a newfound focus on child development. Before this, children's furniture was just smaller versions of adult pieces. The Industrial Revolution and subsequent social progress changed the status of children, resulting in the creation of specific areas within households dedicated to children by the 19th century. Educational theories and mass schooling gained traction, further advancing the first kid’s furniture designs to include learning and play elements.
Marie-Ange Brayer explains the development in the second half of the 20th century. After the post-war rebuilding efforts of the 1950s, where children began to occupy a distinct and significant role in society, children’s furniture became notably robust yet innovative. The 1960s marked a pivotal turning point in children’s furniture design. With the advent of the pop art movement, furniture became colorful, making use of new materials like plastic for brightness, lightness, and flexibility. Moreover, designers began showing an interest in not only creating an object for children, but an entire environment.
Grégoire Borst expanded on this, “Something that emerged in the 60s was the focus on not only the rationality of the object, but designers observing the behavior and experimentation of the children using it.”
2. Awareness of children's complex intelligence is growing
In the last few decades, children’s furniture has been aimed towards motor and sensory activities. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that your little ones can engage in far more complex activities.
Grégoire Borst mentioned the evolving recognition of children’s intelligence as being far more complex than most realize, even from a young age. He said, “[Children] are little scientists, little philosophers, little psychologists in the crib. They have very complex intelligence, and they can engage in complex cognitive, social, and emotional activities.”
By recognizing and supporting the multifaceted nature of children's growth and intelligence, designers can create environments that foster their development in even more meaningful ways.
3. Child-centric home design can build creativity and confidence
Grégoire Borst highlighted that children possess a natural ability to turn everyday objects into playthings, showcasing the importance of thoughtful furniture design in their development. He emphasized, “[Children] actually use furniture as a way to engage in structural and free play and move from one to another. So, furniture should be designed to stimulate the creativity of children, trigger their imagination and their ability to think outside of the box.”
With play being an important driver in a child’s development, he suggests these experiences are crucial for nurturing their imagination, problem-solving skills, and social interactions later in life. Designing furniture with children in mind is key; adult-centric designs often overlook practicality and ease of use for younger users. It's about creating pieces that not only fulfill functional needs but also inspire creativity and support their learning.
In addition, each piece of furniture should be tailored to their size and developmental stage, ensuring it enhances their play experiences and contributes positively to their overall growth. Brayer noted that since the sixties, designers have reimagined children’s furniture, introducing playful innovations like Nanna Ditzel's Trissen—a seat that transforms into a table—and creating entire environments such as Luigini Colonie's Cabanne, where children can rest, play, and create in one structure.
4. Parents are increasingly seeking sustainable and lasting products for their children
Young, modern parents today are placing a strong emphasis on sustainability and durability when it comes to buying furniture for their children. They are making intentional choices that not only consider environmental impact but also prioritize long-lasting quality.
For example, there's a growing preference for furniture pieces like Tripp Trapp® that are built to endure and can be handed down through generations. This shift reflects their commitment to responsible consumption and their desire to invest in items that will stand the test of time while minimizing their ecological footprint.
Stokke® CEO Jacob Kragh bought this point to light in the discussion, saying, “Not only do they think about nature, but they are also making choices in their lives and with their spending which purposefully doesn’t take too much away from the environment.”
5. The future of children's furniture design will be sustainable and inclusive
Looking ahead to the future of children's furniture design, Marie-Ange Brayer predicted that established educational theories, such as those of Friedrich Fröbel, Maria Montessori, and Célestin Freinet, will continue to influence design practices. However, she sees these theories being reshaped in a more global, sustainable, and inclusive manner. This approach would emphasize freedom and creativity, aiming to empower children in their environments.
We cannot look to the future without taking technology into account. While technology and its advancement can pose challenges to the parent-child relationship by making it harder to connect, it was suggested this can be navigated by increasing education for parents on childhood development.
Parents today play a key role in understanding and supporting their children's growth, even in our tech-driven world. By learning more about their kids' strengths and needs, they can create stronger connections and more meaningful interactions.
6. Designs like Tripp Trapp® show why thinking big for little ones matters
As one of the few pieces on display for The Childhood of Design exhibit, still in production – it is clear Tripp Trapp® is hitting the right note when it comes to designing furniture for children.
Jacob Kragh used this as a notable example of why it is important to design furniture specifically for children. Beyond an evergreen and timeless design, the continued popularity of the chair shows the need for furniture which prioritize children’s needs in products crafted for families and young parents. As Kragh stated in the discussion,“When Peter Opsvik created a chair for life, he met universal needs that remain relevant today with over 15 million Tripp Trapp® chairs sold worldwide.”