Title: If Winnicott could make toys...

Authors: Lieselotte Van Leeuwen, Diane Westwood

Addresses: Department of Psychology, University of Sunderland, David Goldman Building, St. Peter's way, Sunderland SR6 0DD, UK. ' Department of Psychology, University of Sunderland, David Goldman Building, St. Peter's way, Sunderland SR6 0DD, UK

Abstract: Donald Winnicott|s concept of transitional objects and phenomena is recognised as a source of inspiration for the development of design ideas for play. This paper attempts to translate principles of his work in the field of psychotherapy into criteria for design related to play. The concept of the transitional object was analysed in terms of user requirements at different ages and in different everyday contexts. The idea of |transitional space| was translated into the need for play objects to support specific physical actions while remaining unspecific with regard to the potential meanings ascribed to these actions.

Keywords: toy design; transitional object; transitional space; Winnicott; play objects; transitional phenomena.

DOI: 10.1504/IJART.2010.030493

International Journal of Arts and Technology, 2010 Vol.3 No.1, pp.57 - 65

Published online: 18 Dec 2009 *

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