Hravo

The idea of starting a systematic new mass production of Slovak toys, which would rouse interest by their authentic design, emerged at the beginning of 2013, when under the umbrella of the civic association just plug_in, o.z. we brought the hravo brand into existence. As curators we are interested in testing the potential of a variety of creative approaches. For hravo’s first collection we called on the graphic designer Ondrej Gavalda, product designer Michala Lipková and the architect/graphic designer Karol Trnovský. The task was: „to design and realize prototypes of wooden toys which by their form stimulate children to experimentation and creativity“. All three designs ultimately work with the child’s imagination and offer children (and adults) a variety of levels of play. hravo’s collection was complemented by two new designs in 2014. Igor Marko explored the potential of the international marine Sign Flag Alphabet applied to wooden cubes, and Ján Šicko gave further proof of his feeling for folk ornamention, which he brings into play in a rotating object resembling the toy that many of us know as the „wolf-cub“. A further dimension of the project is to open up discussion of the significance of the high-quality toy in the life of the pre-school child. hravo therefore offers a forum to experts, established designers and manufacturers, where they may contribute their knowledge, experience and opinions on the given theme and thus help to realize a viable product. „Playing is mental vitamins, essential for our development.“ Ladislav Sutnar, 1940