Designist Dream

Tel Aviv’s prestigious Shenkar College of Engineering and Design is hosting a conference and exhibition tomorrow called “Eco-Play with Bamboo” featuring guest lecturers from Germany, France and China about the material of bamboo for toys - its versatility as a material for toys and the impact of its usage on the environment. Or, more simply, why using bamboo is a good material to use for your kids’ toys. Turns out bamboo toys are way better than plastic (duh) and for sure better than wood, huh? Well, it’s safer for the environment: it is easily cultivated and, as opposed to depleting the rain forest further for trees, bamboo is easily replenished; it grows in cycles every 3-5 years.

Anyway, back to Israel’s design contribution to the field - or why I’m writing about it. Back in 2004, 15 students from Shenkar were invited by designer Peter Handstein, of HaPe International toy company, to study bamboo - how to grow it, cultivate it and work it into design products. Just when you thought toys from China were all plastic and being recalled, check out Anji County where ecological principles reign supreme and the county is synonymous with bamboo. HaPe International works with Anji’s natural resources and antique Chinese traditions for fashioning bamboo into children’s toys and other household objects. The Shenkar students trained with masters and local craftsmen, focusing on toys that were suitable for children between 6 months and 8 years old. And of course taking into consideration issues of safety, developmental stages and imagination. A judging panel of close to 800 children from Anji played with the toys designed and offered their ‘expert’ criticism. So check out the toys created by Israeli art students - like the truck above by Itai Amir - at the exhibition opening tomorrow night and on view through February 13th at Shenkar Gallery on campus in Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv. Alternatively, listen to speakers from leading toy, design and bamboo product companies at the conference. Or, reed more (ha, get it?) about bamboo and its role in our ecology here.