Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

A few years ago Federico Babina, a Barcelona-based Italian architect, switched from buildings to graphic design creating this series of architecture-themed postcards called Archicards.

This collaboration between Art of Ping Pong and French illustrator Marylou Faure who aspires to create works that invoke joy scores all the points.

LA-based Slowdown Studio has collaborated with Mylle and London-based artist Anna Beam to create this playful but sophisticated take on the humble inflatable pool. 

Made from super-durable heavyweight vinyl, each pool features a valve for easy inflation and is big enough to hold an adult... or two.

It has been a while since we’ve written about dollhouses (you can have a look at other more minimal versions here and here) but this one by Louis Vuitton was way too adorable to pass up.

We know. We have all overdosed on the news relating to the pandemic and the last thing you are looking for in a place like this is more of the same, but bear with us. This project was too good to pass by. 

Pixio Magnetic Construction Set by Ivan Khalus and Oleh Berezovskyi is a riff on the 3D graphics industry.

These abstracted wooden creatures by Hakan Gürsu are designed to elicit hours of creative play by offering unlimited possibilities for making creatures with simple, organic forms that foster creativity and perception of aesthetics.

The negative space of the Edge Dominos by Andrew Perkins puts a twist on the traditional format of the game by reducing the tile design down to the barest elements.

Little Houses sensory play space divider by Neringa Orlenok helps to create different activity zones to assist with early childhood development.

This collection of intuitive wooden toy blocks consists of 12 separate units each with its own story crafted around nature and the elements including soil, fire, flower, tree, mountain, sea, ice, stone, earth, moon, sun, and sand.

The Double Cross Game by Pip Tompkin Design is both toy and sculpture.

It's not the first foosball table we've featured, but Joie by Italian studio Giacopini Design and the Samba table could not be more different.

You won't find bright, primary colours here, but this alphabet set by Korean designers Oioiooi is still designed for endless hours of play, storytelling and decoration.

These sculptural crayons by Keetra Dean Dixon are a playful way to bring some colour into your life.

Moon Picnic have designed this adorable weather station to help teach children in a fun and engaging way.

The beautifully minimalist but very versatile Wobbel board can be used as a rocker, a slide, a skateboarding ramp and more - the only limit to the fun is your child's imagination.

Reminiscent of acorns, the Conos wooden spinning tops by Chilean designer and jeweller Nicolás Hernández are like little pieces of sculpture that are as beautiful to look at as they are to play with.

Called Ilo, which means "Joy" in Finnish, this modern, outdoor play cabin by Koto Elementa is designed as a space for children and adults to shelter in nature. 

Ty Mecham

Summer. Is. Here. And for all the trips we will inevitably be making to the beach, it's great to have  the option to take well-designed and environmentally-friendly toys with us.

A new carousel was recently unveiled in Wattens, Austria by well-known crystal manufacturer Swarovski as part of Swarovski Kristallwelten, a sculpture garden-cum-visitors-centre nestled among the Tyrolean Alps, near their head office. Created by Spanish artist and designer Jaime Hayon, the carousel eschews colour is rendered in black and white with accents of gold, all of which contrast beautifully with the lush, green surroundings. The result is surprisingly elegant.