Paulina Yurman
MA RCA DIC
Tel: +44 (0) 7939 061 642
Email: dtp01py@gold.ac.uk
Blurred boundaries between play and work: the intersections between the world of the child and that of the adult and the relationship between children and work.
Paulina is currently developing her practice based research in the area of blurred boundaries between play and work. She is particularly interested in the relationship between children and work, their perceptions and involvement. Her research investigates the innovative design solutions of working parents who need to achieve work while looking after their offspring: in this situation there is a merging between the world of the adult and the world of the child. People make use of their creativity to find innovative ways of integrating work and family life. In many cases they re-design the environment in which they work and live. This research will be asking: can a piece of furniture, a product, an environment be intentionally designed to be a play platform for a child and a work platform for an adult? In which contexts are clear limits between work and play more efficient? In which scenarios are blurred boundaries more realistic and effective? These design solutions will need to be looked at in a series of cultural and social contexts.
The research will also focus on work elements in children’s play and the role of toys as ‘tools’ for play, adult/work products that become children/play toys and the toy as an imitation of an adult’s product. The line that used to divide the material world of adults and of children is now becoming more and more blurred. Technology has a role in these blurring of boundaries and this is something worth exploring.
Background:
Paulina is an industrial designer. She studied mechanical engineering at Universidad Simón Bolívar in Caracas before undertaking an MA industrial design engineering at the Royal College of Art and Imperial College, London. Paulina worked as a designer in LEGO while living in Denmark. During this time she worked in a multidisciplinary environment, managing the expertise of child psychologists and technologists to create innovative design products in the field of play and learning. After moving back to London she worked in product development for ethical manufacturing in developing countries, which involved an understanding of cultural differences in attitudes towards work. She later set up her own practice designing product and furniture, interactive apps, children’s products and a school play installation. She has recently designed a range of concepts of baby/toddler furniture for Mothercare.