DESIGN NAME: Emok Mamoki
PRIMARY FUNCTION: Double sided organic soft toy
INSPIRATION: Inspiration for the toy was expression of happiness on little boy's face.
UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION: EMOK MAMOKI is innovative toy as it is reversible and has double sided character. They are all unique as I use different colours and finishing. Also it can be personalized when made to order by embroidery name on lavender heart. They have attached special MAMOKI's PASSPORT with a number for limited edition, name, design details and information about product and how to care of it.
OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION: EMOK MAMOKI - is a double sided toy that you can change it by turning inside out through its mouth. You can play with it also by hiding things inside it. There are two designs on each side. On the one side it looks childish. It is dressed in overalls with little pockets where you can put for example his hands. The reverse looks like a monster. It has got heart filled with lavender at the end of its tail. Smell can make you more relaxed. It is also very soft cuddly toy.
PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION: The idea of double sided toy came to me in the end of November 2009. The toy was shown on many occasions and quickly became very popular and desirable. I got my first orders, then next ones, after recommendation. Since then I have made hundreds of EMOK MAMOKI, and many more different designs. Each of them unique. Since 2010 I sold them on the Galway Markets to many tourists from all over the world, some galleries and craft shops in Ireland, via Internet (Etsy, Facebook) and many after recommendation.
FITS BEST INTO CATEGORY: Toys, Games and Hobby Products Design
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PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY: The process of the production of double sided toy is longer and more complicated then a normal toy. It need more fabric and work to make it.
Production process includes: preparing and cutting form in fabrics, embroidery, sewing on front main shapes, stuffing parts of the toy, sewing in all together, hand finishing
Materials which I use: certified organic cotton interlock/bamboo fleece, hypoallergenic stuffing made from natural fiber, woolen felt for details, lavender- heart
In my toys there is no polyester, neither plastic. No materials supplied from China.
All homemade in Ireland in no smoking and no pets house, with special care and love.
SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES: SIZE DIMENSIONS: Width 20 cm(+14cm with hands) x Depth 7cm-base, 2cm-toy's top area x Height 32cm
PACKAGE: for packing I use at the moment bags made from recycled paper with MAMOKI name and logo handmade screen-printed.
TAGS: EMOK MAMOKI, double sided, soft, design, unique, toy, child, baby, present, kids, original, special, gift, hypoallergenic stuffing, organic cotton, monster
RESEARCH ABSTRACT: Since I finished my Art Collage in 2001, as a Artist Usable Form Technician specialized in Toy Making, I was interested in toy design. I searched in local markets (Polish and since 2002 also Irish), global in Internet resources, books and magazines and during my trips, cultural events participation, meeting with artists and designers. I attended at the Toy Fair in London, design and craft showcases (mostly in Ireland). I have found that there was a lot of poor quality mostly plastic or even made with toxic materials, cheap, toys made in China. I also found that there were a number of people who prefer to buy less toys but with better quality and some emotional value. I found there was other market with more exclusive toys - made by designer and produced in limited editions, mostly directed to teenagers. There were also some wooden and organic cotton – ecological toys. They were usually fancy design but often with no interaction or personal touch. Despite the fact that I was interested in toys market I did not prepare my designs special for it. I created my designs for children that I know and love. I used for my toys organic cotton and natural hypoallergenic stuffing as a part of my lifestyle. The first EMOK MAMOKI toy was made as a present for a boy who I was minding at that time and who was an inspiration for that design. Then the design turned out to be popular... I started my own production and sold my toys personally. I have received a very positive feedback and response. My customers were: young tourist people looking for something original, new parents, their families and friends, who are looking for a special gift for a child or newborn baby. People, who like good quality and original design, with ecological awareness who appreciate organic value. Conclusion to my research is that I observed that local market is to small for my toys and they need international audience. And, this is what brought me here, to give them that opportunity.
CHALLENGE: The challenge in this project is that my toys are very time consuming and because they are made in Ireland it is hard to keep it in low cost. I made a research as I wanted to send my project to factories. I was in India and started some negotiations, but found it difficult to keep all the process on my will, since I wont be there to supervise. I have also sent some works on the design (such as cutting and embroidery) to be made in one of the Turkish factories. Unfortunately I wasn't satisfied with the result. So, my idea to put my designs into production failed with no more funds. Than I started to consider working and selling my ideas as a designer.
ADDED DATE: 2011-12-24 04:35:16
TEAM MEMBERS (1) : Marcin Calka - my husband helped me with some ideas, labor organization, producing and technical solutions.
IMAGE CREDITS: Renata Calka, 2011.
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