Omni Daily Crush: "Kid Made Modern"
How many artists or non-fashion designer names do your kids know? Have they ever heard of Calder or Noguchi? What about power couples like Mary and Russell Wright or Charles and Ray Eames? I suspect that the answer is probably a resounding "no" to any of of the aforementioned. Thankfully, the design guru Todd Oldham appears to be on a laudable mission to up the ante on our cultural literacy and arts-and-crafts know-how among the next generation. His super new book, Kid Made Modern is just the ticket. Designed just for the up and coming generation-D.I.Y., this large format book introduces the age 5-13 set to pioneering design ideas and techniques through a combination of clever short rhyming introductions and really cool projects requiring a mercifully modest list of supplies. Here's a snippet from the introduction to architect Gio Ponti:
Italian Gio Ponti was an architect of great note. He designed buildings, rugs and tiles, even the inside of a boat. With his clear vibrant colors and geometric forms, He made bright modern rooms, sunny and warm.
Projects are developed around different kinds of materials (paint, paper, tape, cardboard) and creative techniques and media (painting and printing, stitiching, drawing, even working with simple color dyeing methods and decoupage). In keeping with Oldham's design ethos, the projects are witty and colorful, and leave plenty of room for individual creativity. That seems to be the other part of Oldham's mission: to inspire young kids to express themselves by experimenting with color, line, form, and everyday materials to make usable stuff. For kids bored by traditional methods of learning arts and crafts, this book will be a very welcome surprise. They'll learn to make a brightly colored pile rug inspired by the color genius Verner Panton, paper sculptures and light cubes a' la Noguchi, zines, cork boards, neck-a-roni (a stylish variation on painted pasta necklaces), and a cardboard casa inspired by architect Luis Barragan. This is a great holiday gift for kids. And yet, I suspect that Oldham's grown-up fan base will eat this uber-hip book up as well. I can't recall the last time I got to make a kaleidoscope film or design a cork jug.
Recommended for fans of Oldham's must-have monograph on Charley Harper, Charley Harper: An Illustrated Life, D.I.Y. Kids by Ellen and Julia Lupton, and Amanda Blake Soule's bestseller Handmade Home.
christmas presents on November 20, 2009 at 02:35 AM
Extremely amazing.I have got lot of stuff for my child.I was wondering this kind of stuff only.Now We all came improve knowledge of our children.Thanks for sharing such a great post here....