Playing, learning, sleeping and being active: The way children grow up is not just a question of design. Since the mid-19th century, children’s lives and experiences have been characterised by furniture, toys, books and everyday objects designed especially for them. These early design objects also shed light on the phenomenon of childhood and the change in its social perception. In the 20th century, which was proclaimed the ‘Century of the Child’ by the Swedish educationalist Ellen Key in 1900, the design of children’s rooms and objects developed into a discipline in its own right. The preoccupation with the theme of childhood in particular has often given modern designers particular freedom and creativity, from the design reform around 1900 to the Bauhaus and post-war design in East and West to the present day. With its high standards of simplicity, stability and intuitive usability, design for children can almost be regarded as a paradigm for good design. A number of artists have taken up these changes over the course of time and created an exhibition that will be open to all interested parties at the Bröhan Museum from 13 October 2024.
Image above: Paula auf „Clara“, dem Nashorn-Alexandra Kiesel-2023-Foto: Theresa Lange
‘Design for Children’ brings together around 250 examples of furniture, toy, product and graphic design and places them in their time of origin. The exhibits include designs by reform designers such as Richard Riemerschmid, August Geigenberger and Clara Möller-Coburg, Bauhaus artists such as Alma Siedhoff-Buscher and Marcel Breuer as well as international design greats such as Bruno Munari, Libuše Niklová, Luigi Colani and Matali Crasset. The theme of the playground is conveyed by means of large-format play objects and playground models by German designer Günter Beltzig, which are being shown for the first time.
A separate area dedicated to children’s books not only presents historical examples, but also provides a small pop-up library for browsing, looking at and reading aloud. The exhibition is aimed at children and adults alike and contains many interactive elements that can be tried out, played with and sat on.
With this exhibition, the Bröhan Museum encourages a change of perspective between young and old and invites adults interested in design to look at the material world through the eyes of a child – while opening up a playful approach to design topics for the youngest visitors.
EXHIBITION PROGRAMME:
Opening of the exhibition
Sunday, 13 October, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., free admission, registration not required
Free guided tours for families (plus museum admission) every 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month, 11 am to 12 noon, no registration required
Free guided tours for the public (plus museum admission) every Saturday at 4 pm, no registration required
Digital curator tour: Monday, 14 October, 6.00 pm, there is a live tour on Instagram @broehan_museum.
Cartoon reading: ‘Kinderland’ and live drawing with Berlin cartoonist Mawil, Sat, 18 January, 11 am, more information at: www.broehan-museum.de/vermittlung
Designbande – hands-on creative studio: Drop-in offer, every 1st Sunday of the month, 1pm-4pm, no registration required.
Free ‘Family Sundays’: every 3rd Sunday of the month, at 11 a.m., for children (5-12 years) and their families, 90 minutes, registration required at: vermittlung@broehan-museum.de, Tel: 030/32 69 06 25
Autumn holidays at the Bröhan Museum: A book every day! Plan, draw and tell fantastic pages, Monday to Thursday, 21 to 24 October, 10 am to 3 pm. For children aged 8 to 12, further information and registration at: www.jugend-im-museum.de
Teacher training: Thursday, 17 October or Friday, 18 October, both 4-6pm. After an exclusive guided tour of the exhibition, the educational programme for school classes will be presented. Registration required. Further information: www.broehan-museum.de/vermittlung
Programme for school classes as part of the exhibition: further information and registration at: www.broehan-museum.de/vermittlung
Exhibition curatorial team: Theresa Augustin M.A., Dr Anna Grosskopf (director), Jana Jarzembowski M.A. (education and outreach), Nils Martin Müller M.A. (education and outreach)
Exhibition design: Katleen Arthen
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm and on all public holidays (closed on 24 and 31 December).
Admission: 8,- €, reduced 5,- €.
WHEN?
Vernissage: Sunday, 13 October 2024, 11 am to 1 pm, free admission, registration not required
Exhibition dates: Sunday, 13 October 2024 – Sunday, 16 February 2025
Digital curator tour: Monday, 14 October 2024, 6.00 pm
Cartoon reading, ‘Kinderland’ and live drawing with Berlin cartoonist Mawil: Saturday, 18 January 2025, 11 a.m.
Autumn holidays at the Bröhan Museum: Monday to Thursday, 21 to 24 October, 10 am to 3 pm
Teacher training: Thursday, 17 October or Friday, 18 October, 4-6 p.m. each day
WHERE?
Bröhan Museum
Schloßstraße 1a
14059 Berlin
Costs?
Eintritt: 8 EUR, ermäßigt 5 EUR
