L'enfance du design: an exhibition of nostalgia and design at the Centre Pompidou

Furniture, bedrooms, school desks, games: children's furniture designs have changed dramatically over the last century. The Centre Pompidou offers us a retrospective that is both historical and artistic, as we discover"L'enfance du design". The exhibition runs from April 25 to August 12, 2024 in Paris.

In the twentieth century, the place and uniqueness of thechild evolved greatly. New theories on learning, family structure and education gave the child a more important place in the social scheme of things. This new social status is also reflected in the world of design andfurnishings: children's bedrooms become spaces apart, designed for their little inhabitants, with objects made to measure for them.

In Germany, France, Denmark and Italy, leading designers are dreaming up original furniture and objects designed for children, and not just for the whole family. Little by little, bedrooms are being transformed, becoming colorful, happy oases for the youngest, places designed to spark their imagination and encourage thelearning of new skills.

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As society and its constraints evolve, so does the design of children's furniture. The spread ofschooling, changes in housing standards , the emergence of new materials and theories on children's needs are all transforming objects.

Designers give free rein to their creativity in this world, which has its own constraints, but also its own freedoms. Colors, interactive objects, shapes, sizes, multifunctional objects: the world of childhood offers many creative opportunities. Playfulness andoriginality play an increasingly important role in design choices, transforming bedrooms into little worlds of wonder.

Over the course of the century and the exhibition, we see furniture change and adapt, illustrating the status of the child in society in each era.

A fascinating exhibition for design fans at the Centre Pompidou!