Toy Design

In my work as designer I'm looking for the essence of play. I observe how kids interact with objects, with toys or anything else they find, and how they transform them in their games. A cardboard box is maybe the best example of an open ended "toy" with endless possibilities. The challenge is to invent new objects that trigger the children's natural urge to play and explore in a similar way, to create toys that engage children on a physical, intellectual as well as an emotional level. This is not achieved through complicated mechanisms or countless fancy features but quite on the contrary through clever simplicity that leaves room for the child's imagination.

Biography

Alex Hochstrasser was born in Switzerland in 1973. He studied Industrial Design at the University of Art and Design in Zurich and worked for renowned Design Firms in Barcelona, San Francisco, New York and Tokyo. After a series of lighting designs he launched Bilibo, his first toy, in 2001, together with the Swiss toy company ACTIVE PEOPLE. The unique, open-ended play object won numerous international awards and is featured in several museum exhibitions. Since 2002 Alex Hochstrasser is pursuing his passion for innovative play ideas as creative director of ACTIVE PEOPLE. He currently lives and works in Zurich.

Personal Websites

http://moluk.com/

http://www.alexhochstrasser.com

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