Sea people
The best of children’s design inspired by the beach and by the underwater world and its inhabitants
The sea, as well as ships, waves, abysses and the creatures who lives underneath it, are a great source of inspiration for many arts. In music, but also in iconography and illustrations, the sea is frequently mentioned, just as painful and poignant love musical arrangements. For some years now, the sea also invaded the crowded world of kid’ design.
In the past, the fields of furniture and design drawn inspiration from the sea world with rather heavy ma
ritime furniture, made of then common dark wood and inspired by ships and life on board. Today, when it comes to design for the young ones, everything it is different. Shapes and forms are simpler and often related to objects that, not necessarily because of their function, are inspired by a sea world inhabited by fish, whales, friendly sharks and all the symbols of our beach summers.
Whales like those by Nidi, the kids’ design division of Battistella, a historic Venetian furniture company, that on some on its carpets offers a marine-inspired design complete with a giant whale in the centre.
Laughing whales also for the pillow/stuffed animal by Noga Ravin, the Israeli textile designer now based in Poland, who creates fabric and felt zoos. Sharks also at Skip Hop, the brand specialised in hyper colourful games and accessories for kids with fun, educational and functional features. The same is true for Don Fisher from Spain that offers, and not just to the young ones, multicoloured pencil cases and small bags, just like a group of colourful fish.
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Thinking of the sea, however, also makes us think of ships and boats. Designed for bathtub water though, just like the boats and bath games by Oils & Carol, made of natural rubber, to be used and misused even by the very small. On the same wavelength, the bathrobes and sleeping bags by Baby Bites, the Spanish brand renowned for some time for its bags shaped as sharks. After the evening bath, as we know, it is bedtime. Best if in a bed/cabin by Lef Collection that practically allow to get rid of the walls of the children’s room. To daydream and relax before going to sleep, the mobiles and machines without a use by Calder and Munari revised in maritime version. Fabric sailing boats for Moran Alhalel, the Israeli textile designer who uses delicate patterns and pastel colour palettes, but also clear shapes and primary colours by the historic brand Flensted Mobiles.
On the walls? Stylised boats by Chispum for those who prefer a minimalist styles or fashionable pink flamingos, maybe to use as an unusual headboard by MIMI’lou. When the sea is calm, like the waves of the carpet by Bobo Choses, the beach offers many great things. In the mornings, the fishermen returning to harbour and their cardboard houses by This is Karton. Bathers who after a quick check in the Sardina mirror by Honorè commute from their beach huts/wardrobes by Valsecchi 1918 to the beach like the sandbox by the kids’ design Turkish brand Lil’gaea. When night falls, there is the small bonfire by Land of Nod, a small light designed for the young ones and for the many adventures of bedtime reading.