Charlotte Friis: Revolutionizing Childhood Memories with the Children Papers Chair

A Unique Chair That Stores Children's Drawings for Years

The Children Papers Chair was conceived as part of the Storytelling Furniture series, which documents the subjects of daily life. The inspiration for this design came from a toilet paper roll, and the chair tells a story about our extensive use of paper. It is more than just a functional and decorative chair in a playroom; it becomes a memory collection device, storing children's drawings on 400 meters of paper for approximately five years.

The chair is designed for children aged three to eight. It offers a fun and interactive space, allowing the child to draw either on the back support or directly on the paper roll. The back support is made of solid wood with a white lacquer finish, and the paper rolls are held in place by a metal resort system that enables the paper rolling movement. The metal arms that hold the rolls are 380 mm long, accommodating a paper roll of 370 mm diameter.

The Children Papers Chair is not just a chair; it is an interactive space that encourages creativity. The child sits on the paper roll and begins to draw. As the drawing extends, it can be rolled onto the back cylinder, which stores all the drawings. This innovative design addresses the common problem of losing or discarding children's drawings, providing a unique solution that preserves these precious memories.

The chair was developed in Copenhagen and has been exhibited at The Nordic Embassies in Berlin and the Victoria & Albert Museum of Childhood, London in 2018. The design process involved extensive interaction with children and parents, revealing their desire to preserve all the memories. The creative challenge was to devise the movement of the paper roll, which was successfully achieved.

Charlotte Friis' Children Papers Chair is a testament to the power of innovative design. It rethinks the experience of drawing, tells a story about the extensive use of paper, and provides a unique way to store and preserve children's drawings. This design, which won the Silver A' Design Award for Baby, Kids and Children's Products in 2018, showcases a remarkable level of excellence and introduces positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.