The Childhood of Design

The history of 20th century design is run through with the creation of furniture for children. The greatest designers developed an interest in designing objects for children. Far from being a miniaturisation of furniture items for adults, furniture for children quickly acquired a real autonomy and developed its own specific character. Today, designers like matali crasset derive another approach to design from the world of childhood, based on hybrid "situation-objects" that feed into changing scenarios. 

This explosion fits in with the heritage of the Centre for Industrial Creation's which organised exhibitions on childhood including "The City & the Child" in 1977-1978 and "Toys and Games" in 1979. Presenting a hundred-odd works, more than half of which were acquired thanks to the support of the Bonpoint brand, the exhibition explores the revival of design through the prism of these "small objects", leading to new typologies of delightful aesthetic objects and amusing learning tools that pave the way to creativity.