ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the importance of daily student presentations by looking to the past for design story inspiration. For example, plain white dinner napkins that feel like quality handkerchiefs or tissues, or white paper table clothes draped over a table provides the feel and view that challenges young designers with fresh ideas. Students are offered rides on stick horses, direct from the people home stable, designed during the early 1900s. There is a wealth of design history in action toys, from yo-yos to pull toys that are enhanced to the "unforgettable" status when presented with sample designs to handle. Although in the 20th century, art came to include the study of architecture, photography and video, the strip of what is considered legitimate art history is still narrow and excludes most objects of great appeal to children. In the art class, an international view of art history can be initiated with an introduction to the history of Sweden's Brio toy designers.
