Glay: The Smart Kids Wardrobe

Transforming Play and Organization

Glay was inspired by the designer's daughter, who expressed her desire for a wardrobe that she could play with. The designers wanted to avoid excessive digitalization and instead focus on creating a tangible and interactive experience for children. By incorporating both digital and real-life elements, Glay captures children's attention and encourages their imagination.

What sets Glay apart from other children's wardrobes is its ability to transform into a play area. It features a frame that can be pulled out to reveal a secret playroom, a table for writing or drawing, and two riding chairs. This design allows children to engage in creative play while also providing a practical storage solution for their clothes.

Glay utilizes e-paper technology in its door, developed in collaboration with E ink Corp. This door serves as a drawing board, coloring board with bear patterns, and even a platform for shooting games. The wood surface of the door is designed with holes for playing blocks, which helps children develop their logical thinking skills and practice numbers and the alphabet.

Parents can control the color and patterns on the digital door through Bluetooth connectivity. They can also set a housework timer function, which can be synchronized with their phone calendar. The changing patterns on the door serve as a visual reminder for children about their bedtime, helping them understand the concept of time.

The Glay wardrobe measures 1500mm in width, 600mm in depth, and 1200mm in height. It was designed by Marco Guariglia and Jui Ju Lin and realized with the assistance of Joe Hsieh, Hao Jhe Li, and Sheng Xun Zhan.

The project began in December 2017 in Taipei and was completed in April 2018. It was exhibited at the Salone del Mobile in Milan, Italy, in April 2018 and received the Good Design Award in Chicago, USA, in 2019.

Glay was created with the intention of bringing joy to parenting and home life, particularly during the COVID-19 home quarantine periods. It teaches children the importance of keeping their clothes neat and tidy while also engaging them in creative play. Additionally, it helps children learn to manage their time for daily activities such as meals, studying, showering, and sleeping.

Images:

Main: Photographer Marco Guariglia, Taipei, 2020

Image #1: Photographer Marco Guariglia, Taipei, 2020

Image #2: Photographer Marco Guariglia, Taipei, 2020

Image #3: Photographer Marco Guariglia, Model: Jui-Ju Lin/ Yalex Guariglia, Taipei, 2020

Image #4: Photographer Marco Guariglia, Taipei, 2020

Intellectual Property Notice: Copyrights belong to Marco Guariglia, 2018.

Awards and Accolades: Glay was awarded the Iron A' Design Award in the Baby, Kids, and Children's Products Design category in 2021. This award recognizes well-designed, practical, and innovative creations that meet professional and industrial requirements. Glay stands out for its integration of industry best practices, competent technical characteristics, and contribution to a better world.