Colourful opening ceremony with many happy faces

The first day of the Kind + Jugend trade fair traditionally features two highlights: the Innovation Award and the Kids Design Award honour particularly innovative products and creative design ideas that provide the direction and benchmark for the subsequent days. Therefore, one could see many happy faces among both exhibitors and visitors.

With the Kind + Jugend Innovation Award, new products for babies and toddlers are honoured that stand out for an especially innovative idea, outstanding technology, a high degree of functionality and/or extraordinary design. This year, precisely 200 products from 30 countries were submitted for the coveted awards – a new record. Of the 26 nominees, the following products prevailed in the eight prize categories:

"World of Moving Kids": the Chinese company Ningbo I-Believe Sports Goods Co. convinced the jury with its I-S035A baby stroller. The inspiration for this stroller is the car, first with reference to the design, and secondly due to the intelligent brake safety system B-TOUCH, which helps to avoid accidents.

"World of Travelling Kids": Dorel Juvenile was once again able to assert itself in this category. The new Maxi-Cosi Coral is the first modular children's car seat that elevates comfort and ergonomics to the next level.

"World of Moving & Travelling Kids Accessories": the Breast Pump UV LED Sterilisation Bag of the Chinese manufacturer Shenzhen UVLED Optical Technology Co. makes it possible for nursing mothers to easily and safely sterilise milk pumps on the go, thus improving protection for mother and child.

"World of Kids Safety at Home": the LIIP SMART MONITOR from LIIP CARE - WEARABLE INTELIGENTES is the first intelligent bracelet that monitors the most important vital functions of the baby around the clock and immediately informs the parents of any irregularities.

"World of Kids Toys": the functional toy MODU by the Danish manufacturer of the same name can be used in a variety of ways and animates children to play actively.

"World of Kids Textiles": the Dutch company Fedde&Kees has developed a safety bed sheet (Nunki baby bed sheet) that provides a feeling of security through a pleasant feeling of pressure on the upper body, while it at the same time allows the lower body adequate freedom of movement.

"World of Kids Care": the Fetus Camera from Marvoto Technology is the world's first portable 3D ultrasound device for expecting mothers who want to take photos of their little ones independently of doctor's visits.

"World of Kids Furniture": the British company Shnuggle was able to assert itself with its Shnuggle Air Bedside Crib product. Created as a baby bed, it grows with the baby and transforms into a children's bed that expands on safety and comfort for toddlers.

Yaara Nusboim can be pleased for winning the Kids Design Award 2019

In addition to honouring already launched products, Kind + Jugend also awards the Kids Design Award annually. This should primarily give young designers the opportunity to introduce themselves to the trade world and establish important contacts. The ten nominees also have the opportunity to receive a product sponsorship by presenting their designs to manufacturers and retailers in the context of a special event at the trade fair. The goal of the sponsorship is to jointly develop a product design to the point of market maturity.

This year, a total of 65 young designers from 25 countries worldwide applied with their ideas. The overjoyed winner was the young Israeli designer Yaara Nusboim with her product "Alma – Therapy Dolls": this series of therapeutic toys for children suffering from emotional problems follows the play therapy method, according to which children are able to heal themselves under the right conditions. The appreciated material composition and the intuitive forms represent the bandwidth of emotions and ease a child's connection with its inner world.

The product "Denkigami" from Valerian Blos, Gosia Lehmann and Guyijin Lee also received a special mention: Denkigami are small hybrids between animals and machines. Inspired by the abilities of the animal, they produce or allow electricity to be sensed. In the interests of digital education for children, technology is explained though fun and simple, practical exercises.