Published: 15 April 2025
School of Form x Good Wood: Designing Creative Toys for Children
Author: Magdalena Miszewska
Can a simple wooden rocker become an explorer's boat, a cozy hideout, or a comfy lounger? In a child's imagination, the possibilities are endless! Thanks to the creative minds of School of Form students, these ideas can become reality. In collaboration with the Good Wood brand, students designed accessories that turn classic rockers into versatile playthings.
The inspiration
Good Wood is a Polish brand specializing in producing rockers that support children's development, inspired by Montessori principles—the idea that each child should explore the world in their own unique way. The brand's products adapt to the needs of little adventurers, growing with them and taking on new functions. A single rocker can transform from a cradle to a climbing ladder, an educational frame, or even a table. With additional elements, the opportunities for imaginative play are limitless.The challenge
Students from the School of Form crafted sets of accessories using fabric, plywood, and other easy-to-find materials. These sets are designed to enhance the rockers, offering at least three different play scenarios with each one.
The design process
The students worked in pairs or groups of three. During six workshops, they learned the nuances of designing for children. Guided by their lecturers, the owner of Good Wood, and most importantly, the young users themselves, they developed their concepts and prototypes, ensuring that their designs truly resonated with the target audience.
Research was an integral part of the design process, helping to create products that meet children's needs. Students observed kids in action in various environments, like playgrounds, public spaces, and homes. They interviewed children and their parents and reflected on their own childhood memories. They also explored insights from the works of Janusz Korczak (a Polish Jewish pediatrician, educator, and pioneering advocate for children's rights), particularly from the book Recepty starego doktora. Wypisy z dzieł Janusza Korczaka. This research helped map out children's needs, resulting in projects that spark imagination and creativity, foster independence, experimentation, and discovery, as well as stimulate the senses.
Anita Basińska
sociologist
The outcome
The project's final result is a full-scale prototype of scenographic elements designed for three different rocker configurations, complete with fastening mechanisms. The students also put together a PDF presentation that featured concept drawings, detailed schematics, project descriptions, and photos of the finished designs.
This is our second collaboration with Good Wood and likely not the last. We have developed a great rapport with the owner, Magda Godziszko, who truly values our students' ideas. While their projects do not always align perfectly with the brief, they consistently bring fresh and unexpected insights to the table. Our meetings were incredibly productive. Magda gave our students detailed feedback on technical issues, production processes, sales, and marketing. She also inspired them with her motivation and positive energy. Testing prototypes and working with children was essential. It gave us the chance to see firsthand how young users interacted with the objects and quickly assess whether and how they worked.
Marta Rowińska
projektantka
Take a look behind the scenes
