Werkelkueche: Redefining Children's Play Beyond Gender Stereotypes

Christine Oehme's Innovative Toy Design Wins Golden A' Baby, Kids and Children's Products Design Award

Children's worlds are often divided into gender stereotypical roles. The clothes are either pink or blue, and the toy department offers fighting ninjas for boys and cute dolls for girls. This early introduction to societal expectations and gender roles is what Christine Oehme aimed to challenge with her innovative design, the Werkelkueche.

The Werkelkueche is a unique blend of a kitchen and a workbench, offering children a diverse range of play possibilities. The curved worktop can serve as a sink or a ski slope, while the side compartments can be used for storage or even baking crispy rolls. The interchangeable tools allow children to realize their ideas and imitate the adult world, all while playing.

Constructed from thermally deformable birch plywood and powder-coated sheet steel, the Werkelkueche is both visually appealing and tactile. The soft, deep groove of the plywood contrasts with the sheet steel's hardness, providing a sensory experience for children. The dimensions of the Werkelkueche are 710mmx440mm780mm, making it a perfect fit for any playroom.

The Werkelkueche is not just a toy; it's a tool for children to explore their identities. It offers an open-ended, intuitive play space where children can imitate the adult world, negotiate conflicts, and gain security. The design encourages children to question, "Who am I and how does it feel to slip into another role?"

The design of the Werkelkueche started in June 2020 and was completed in December 2020 as part of Oehme's bachelor thesis at the Berlin University of the Arts. The project involved extensive research with parents, social workers, educators, and leaders, and even included a survey with over 900 individual responses. The result is a design that challenges gender stereotypes and offers a gender-neutral play space for children.

The Werkelkueche has been recognized for its innovative design and positive impact on children's play, winning the Golden A' Baby, Kids and Children's Products Design Award in 2021. This prestigious award is granted to outstanding creations that reflect the designer's prodigy and wisdom, embodying extraordinary excellence and significantly impacting the world with their desirable characteristics.