100 Objects from Century of the Child

School and playground Playmobil toys. 1970s–80s Playmobil figures, which were introduced in 1975 and are still sold all over the world, were designed by Hans Beck, a model-airplane enthusiast and toy developer. When the early-1970s oil crisis made plastic manufacture more expensive, Beck pursued the concept of small, movable figures that could be paired with various accessories. The core unit of the Playmobil system is the 2 3/4inch figure, which Beck scaled to fit in a child’s hand and enlivened with a simple face like a child’s drawing. Like Lego, Playmobil toys have explored the realms of fantasy and nostalgia, all the while maintaining the modern roots of the system: simple forms and modularity. Learn more at MoMA.org/centuryofthechild

School and playground Playmobil toys. 1970s–80s

Playmobil figures, which were introduced in 1975 and are still sold all over the world, were designed by Hans Beck, a model-airplane enthusiast and toy developer. When the early-1970s oil crisis made plastic manufacture more expensive, Beck pursued the concept of small, movable figures that could be paired with various accessories. The core unit of the Playmobil system is the 2 3/4inch figure, which Beck scaled to fit in a child’s hand and enlivened with a simple face like a child’s drawing. Like Lego, Playmobil toys have explored the realms of fantasy and nostalgia, all the while maintaining the modern roots of the system: simple forms and modularity.

Learn more at MoMA.org/centuryofthechild

09/3/12
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moma  Century of the Child  cotc  child  kids  art  design  toy  play  Playmobil 

Accent theme by Handsome Code

Get your daily dose of design from the MoMA exhibition Century of the Child: Growing by Design, 1900–2000. During each of the 100 days of the exhibition we will showcase an object featured in the show.

To find out more about Century of the Child visit MoMA.org/centuryofthechild.

Purchase the exhibition catalogue on MoMAStore.org or get the digital edition for the iPad on iTunes.

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