How would you like receiving a unique gift from Timbuktu? Something only you will wear, with the unique design of the great Philip Giordano? And yes, there are vampires on them.
Something like this.
Category archive: Design
In-App Purchases: are developers evil?
9 March 2013
There’s been a lot of demonization of developers using in-app purchases inside apps aimed at children. A few days ago Apple had to refund customers in the U.K. when their five-year-old boy accidentally spent $2,500 in in-app purchases in just 15 minutes. The settlement obviously made headlines and the debate followed. Sadly, most of the comments ended up simply reinforcing a widespread misconception: developers who use IAP inside children’s apps are evil and should be banned by Apple.
Since we develop apps for children and one of them uses IAP, we took some time to clarify a few points. We’re pretty passionate about what we do, and we don’t like poor simplifications.
Magazines for kids: history of two great successes
25 January 2013
When we started Timbuktu, our goal was creating a digital editorial product that could replicate and enhance the quality of some great magazines for kids we loved as children. We’ve always thought of Timbuktu as a starting point to explore the world using imagination, parents and kids together. Why a magazine? Because historically new disruptive magazines gave voice to one part of humanity that was still neglected, and made it become recognized as a part of civil society.
Happy MLK day!
17 January 2013
Let’s get ready to celebrate MLK day on monday! Take a look at this infographic and remember why we should all be thankful to this extraordinary men.
10 bizarre buildings your kids (and you) would love to visit.
15 January 2013
Sometimes, there is really no limit to where imagination, and a certain tendency to dare, will take you. Have a look at what these architects dreamed up; it’s a series of buildings that look like they’re out of a child’s imagination, where we bet your kids would love to go.
1 – The picnic basket building
This is the Longaberger Company main office building. They are in Newark, Ohio, and you guessed it: they make baskets.
10 artists, writers and musicians who made great art for kids
14 January 2013
Maybe not all artists are children, but many artists have been inspired by childhood to make beautiful art. We had a look at architects, but many writers, visual artists and musicians were inspired to create work for kids too: here are some of our favorites.
1 – Bruno Munari
How not to open with Bruno Munari, an artist who contributed greatly to education and didactic, and whose work, for kids and otherwise, will always be a source of inspiration for us! Remember the series of activities for kids inspired by him we sent out with our newsletter last summer? The list of his work for children is long, but this poster of speaking forks (and the images in the gallery) can give you an idea of his intelligent and playful approach to design.
Children’s furniture that will make grown-ups very jealous.
11 January 2013
Even when they don’t have anything special about them, children’s furniture are adorable – because, you know, they are tiny, and for children! So when you add great, imaginative design you get something properly amazing pieces of furniture that you really wish you could use too. We’ve collected a few: the bad news is that you are too big for most of them. But the good news is that you still get to keep them in your house!
1 – A tree bookcase
Creatd by Korean designer Shawn Soh, this tree-shaped bookshelf would look fantastic in any child’s room. Maybe your kid will let you keep one or two of your books on it too, if you ask nicely.
Around the world in 7 amazing playgrounds!
10 January 2013
If building a kindergarten is inspiring for an architect (here are 10 beautiful examples of that), can you imagine the excitement for a designer who had to built a playground? We can hardly think of anything, short of an art installation, that allows you to that much freedom. And, in fact, sometimes it’s difficult to tell the difference between an amazing playground and pure art.
Here are a few of them: let’s dream of a trip around the world in 7 playgrounds!
1 – Japan: Woods of Net
Designed by Toshiko Horiuchi Macadam, this wonder is in Hakone, Japan. It’s a knitted playground which we first discovered here.
5 dollhouses that will make you go “wow!”
9 January 2013
There is something utterly special about dollhouses. They are authentic wonders, and seem to hold perfect little lives in them – they are great toys, sure, ready for all sort of adventure to happen inside them, but they are also amazing objects, that hold their fascination intact much after you’ve grown up.
Ancient, new, designed by architects, made by artists and moms: here are five amazing ones, for you to dream of them in utter awe.
1 – Queen Mary’s Dollhouse
Sir Edwin Lutyens was one of the most prominent architects in the 1920s. So much so that he designed and planned a city, and not just any city: he planned built New Delhi, in India. But he wasn’t only interested in huge cities, he could work very well in small spaces too – very small, like Queen Mary’s Dollhouse.
You know what’s the best part of this amazing dollhouse? The library! It’s full of real, tiny books. The dollhouse is at Winsor Castle and can be visited through a virtual tour here. [read more]
The 10 most beautiful kindergartens in the world
3 January 2013
We can hardly imagine a more inspiring assignment for a architect than to design a kindergarden. Colors, imagination, fun: it all should come into play in such a building. And as a matter of fact, many designers have been inspired to do great work when designing such buildings. We have already spoken about our love for colorful, creative schools, and here’s more: ladies and gentlemen, moms and dads, here are the ten most beautiful kindergartens of the world (France is winning this by the way).
1. Groupe Scolaire Joséphine Baker, La Courneuve, France
Designed by Dominique Coulon et Associés, who also designed a few other amazing school buildings, this building uses the orange color in an amazing way to bring warmth into an otherwise white, clean space. We love the contrast with the snow, and how despite the clean lines, the place is all but cold.
