Rowdy

Project: Rowdy
Client: ---
Year: 2013
Material:Felt + sheet metal
Design: Moritz Kessler
Preise: Bayerischer Staatspreis 2013

ROWDY is a toy for children from 3 to 7 years of age. It has a stable core made out of a perforated metal sheet which is surrounded by two layers of felt. Thus a sandwich structure is created that has the stability of metal but the sense and comfort of felt. The felt connects itself through the holes in the perforated sheet just by physically felting the wool, not using any glue. The shape is inspired by a bucking rodeo bull and so is also the motion of the rocking movement. ROWDY is moving in a steep angle when riding forward thus the rider gets the sensation of sitting on a bucking bull.

Producing the sandwich material. Seen here are the first two layers. After the felting process the metal gives the new composed material its strengh and the ability to be formed into various shapes.

Prooving the quality after the process of felting.

Making of

The process of the development of Rowdy started as a semester Project at the Free University of Bolzano. Extracts of the process are seen below.

First tries of forming a rocking toy out of only one sheet of paper. Still having dificulties creating a strong and characteristic shape.

Inspired by rodeo rinding and "Bodacious - the greatest bull to ever bock", the final shape evolved. Always keeping in mind to use a single metal sheet to make the newly developed sandwich-technique of the "Filzblech" possible to be produced.

The first model still without felt to test the durability of the construction... but already a lot of fun trying it out!