Product design
In our in-house design department many creative minds are at work. They draw, design, tinker and test … until our designers, as well as our product management, are satisfied with the designs for the various new toys and children's room accessories. "That is not magic, but creative work," explains designer Ines Frömelt. It takes months before a new product can be manufactured and then bought by customers: The designs are presented, discussed and optimized. Once all those responsible have agreed on the appearance of the product, the price is calculated and the construction drawing is requested from the engineering department. Then several samples are built or sewn, which now go on a journey through the other specialist departments. Stops include, for example, the photo studio, packaging design and the advertising agency. Because in parallel with the production of the new toys the packaging as well as brochures for our retailers and end customers are also produced. For this, various photos as well as texts in several languages are needed, which are used both by the packaging designers and by the print and online graphic designers for the respective media. So you see: From the first draft in the design department to the finished product it is quite a long way!
Allow us? Meet our designers:
Matthias Böck
I studied product design in Hanover and have been working in the HABA family of companies for 11 years. For HABA I have designed all Terra Kids-products designed. Otherwise, I also work for the other sales divisions of the HABA family of companies and, for example, design outdoor play equipment.
I get inspiration from my children, through research and lots and lots of work. What's special about HABA is that we take children seriously.
My favorite product is the whittling knife from Terra Kids because it is made for children but not a toy it is. It is designed and manufactured so that it will last a lifetime and can even be passed on to the next generation.
Anna Lena Filipiak
I am a graduate designer and have been working at HABA since September 2010. I studied at the University of Art and Design/Burg Giebichenstein in Halle (Saale). My focus is baby and toddler products in wood and textiles as well as illustrations. Currently I am particularly involved with the marble run Kullerbü.
I always try to go through the world with open eyes – inspiration can be waiting in the most unexpected places. The best ideas usually hide at first and then come later all on their own when you're busy with something completely different. In addition, exchanging ideas with my colleagues and teamwork are very important to me. Detailed solutions usually emerge almost by themselves here, because the individual ideas and thoughts enrich, complement and develop each other.
The special thing about HABA for me is that we keep children in mind and in our hearts … You can feel that in our products too. They are cheerful, playful and safe. Simply HABA! My favorite product is the Lighthouse stacking game, because it is delightfully simple while being very colorful. Its rounded pegs wonderfully support the little ones in their first stacking attempts. You can also happily knock the tower over … and do it again and again.
Ines Frömelt
After finishing high school and a short carpentry apprenticeship, I studied at the University of Art and Design/Burg Giebichenstein in Halle an der Saale. Since 1993 I've been with HABA and actually design everything: Grasping toys, Puzzle games, Stacking and fitting games … one focus is dolls, hand puppets and doll accessories. But I have also designed children's room accessories or designs for melamine tableware. My favorite HABA product? I like the fantasy stones, the insert game Farbkringel and some individual doll characters have become very dear to me, such as Mali, Rubina and Imke. However, the work on Kullerbü and Little Friends are particularly important to me.
Ideas come to me when drawing, observing and tinkering. Many everyday things or experiences on travels can inspire me. Books or experiencing children continually bring me to new ideas.
I believe HABA combines products for children with a lot of design, love and care, but also with modernity. In my work here I can apply the experiences and learning from my studies almost without restriction. In particular, collaboration with colleagues from different areas makes the results efficient. HABA has already become a feeling, a little philosophy in itself.
Jutta Neundorfer
I studied interior architecture in Coburg (with a focus on furniture design) and have worked at HABA since 1992. I've designed almost everything. At the moment, they are mainly various Products for babies from wood, fabric or plastic, toys for toddlers, various gift items, a wide variety of mobiles and children's room decoration items, but also rugs and lamps. I also designed a children's bag and backpack series. In the past I also did a lot for the games editorial team (developed game rules, game design/themes) and games illustrated. Even now, illustrating remains a major part of my work.
Where my inspirations come from is hard for me to trace. Sometimes from engaging with or seeing completely different things (always keep your eyes open and collect memories). Sometimes I only see something fleetingly and don't recognize it as what it is, but see something completely different in it, which I then turn into a design. But sometimes there are also quite concrete product specifications; then you just have to fit everything together into one (affordable) package.
What stands out to me about HABA products is their relatively high level of innovation. A proof of this is when we are copied by other companies. And also the "beautiful" color and material combinations. My favorite product changes from time to time; at the moment they are the Rainbow Ball Mobile, the Memo board 'Birdie' and the 'Catch the Mouse' coat rack.
Jan Schenkel
After my training as a dental technician I studied industrial design in Wuppertal. Since 2001 I have been working in the HABA company family and design Toys for children, but also furniture, both for HABA and for the other sales divisions.
In the toy sector my main focuses are on swings, the HABA marble run and Sand toys. Especially with our creative sand-play series Sun Bistro we have created something new: It allows realistic role-play in the sandbox or at the beach, whether stirring sand cake batter, baking a pizza or creating a sand garden.
I get inspiration from playing with my children, but also by observing other industries or discussing with my colleagues … overall designing is hard work. My current favorite product is the Kullerbü marble run, because it combines the principle of a classic marble run with a lovingly designed play world.
Mirka Schröder
I studied play and educational media design at the University of Art and Design/Burg Giebichenstein in Halle (Saale) and have been in HABA's design department since February 2013.
I get ideas when I play with children or watch them handle things, build and stack, knock them over or 'repurpose' them. In doing so I learn a lot, above all: to preserve the child's view of things (or to try). I then bring that into my designs for products made of wood and textile for the Baby/Toddler and also into gift items, such as various plug-in night-lights or flashlight projectors. I am also the creator of the Minimonster series with various children's tableware products, a stacking toy, beanbag and doorstop.
For me HABA products combine function, high play value, good design and a humorous view of things. Designing wooden toy products for the toddler sector is what I find most interesting. I really enjoy creating things that support children's essential early play experiences, challenge them and, in the best case, make them laugh. And pacifier chains! They are something else. They look so simple: a few little figures and beads strung together, done. But you wouldn't believe how many template, tensile and impact tests such a pacifier chain must pass before it is ready for production. Sometimes you get desperate – but you also learn a lot!
