Introducing the inaugural Junior Design ICONS…
At Junior we are known for curating the very best in parenting design to help families make excellent choices. The Junior Design Awards are always a great guide to what’s new, exciting and enduring in the world of kids’ design and over the years there have been several key products that have cropped up time and time again, that we regard as parenting must-haves and true icons of design.
To honour these hero products and to share our expertise with parents quickly and easily, we’ve created a special badge awarding Junior Design Icon status.
After much debate and discussion, the Junior Editorial team have come up with a shortlist of 10 Junior Design Icons that every family should have on their radar. This list will be expanded over time and we are looking forward to adding more icon-worthy products soon. From intuitively designed baby equipment that makes parents’ lives easier to classic toys that make childhood memories special, these are Junior’s Design Icons of 2024.
Presenting the 10 Junior Design Icons of 2024
Junior Design ICON:Â The Stokke Tripp Trapp
Country of Origin:Â Norway
Launched:Â 1972
The lowdown: Peter Opsvik’s ambition, when designing the Tripp Trapp® chair in 1972, was to make one chair that could comfortably seat all ages at the same table. By reducing the height difference between small children and their parents and allowing them to sit together at eye level, families could find it easier to interact, making life around the table more enjoyable. Thanks to its combination of sleek design, longevity and practicality, Tripp Trapp has sold more than 13 million chairs worldwide and continues to appear in the most stylish homes.
Why we love it: The perfect example of minimal Scandi design, this chair fits into any home. The brand’s commitment to using eco-friendly materials and a design that can be used from newborn to adult means its longevity cannot be rivalled.
Junior Design ICON: Le Toy Van Sophie’s Dolls House
Country of Origin: UK
Launched: 1995
The lowdown: The first Le Toy Van Dolls House was created 25 years ago and was the first toy to be produced by the famous wooden toy company set up by Georges Le Van. A Le Toy Van dolls house is a coveted item for all stylish nurseries and comes with a myriad of stylish furniture and figures, all crafted in the same sweetly naïve hand painted style as the houses themselves.
Why we love it: A Le Toy Van dolls house is always a beautiful addition to a child’s space and encourages hours and hours of roleplay and creative play. These are dolls houses with a classic feel that can be handed down through generations.
Junior Design ICON: The Bumbo Floor Seat
Country of Origin: South Africa
Launched: 2001
The lowdown: As with most successful parenting inventions, the multi-JDA winning Bumbo Floor Seat was born out of genuine family need. In 1996, doting grandfather Johan Buitendach noticed his highly alert baby grandson, Daniel was happy to be in his family’s arms but really didn’t like being put down. The Bumbo floor seat was born allowing babies to sit upright, look around and engage more fully with their surroundings.
Why we love it: Super comfortable, cute to look at and easy to clean, this floor seat makes parenting so much easier. Lots of babies feel instantly cheered when they are supported by this chair, which acts as a spare pair of hands for parents who want to play feed and chat with their baby at floor level.
Junior Design ICON:Â Sudocrem
 Country of Origin: Ireland
Launched:Â 1931
The lowdown: This iconic grey tub with its simple yet reassuring red and white label is trusted by parents all over the world. Dutifully applied on everything from nappy rash to teenage breakouts, this is the product that once discovered, never leaves your home. Originally called Smith’s Cream it was renamed Sudocrem in 1950 due to the Dublin pronunciation of soothing cream.
Why we love it: This thick, unguent cream gives instant relief to sore or itchy skin, while its lavender scent brings a sense of calm.
Junior Design ICON:Â SNUZpod 4 bedside crib
Country of Origin:Â UK
Launched:Â 2013
The lowdown: The multi-JDA winning SNUZpod bedside crib is known for its fantastic attention to safety and quality. Hugely popular with families who want to keep their babies at arm’s reach in the night without compromising on safe sleeping guidelines, the SNUZpod goes the extra mile to help babies sleep well.
Why we love it: The pared back design, helpful under-crib storage and inbuilt innovative ComfortAir system designed to help regulate baby’s temperature make this a practical, stylish and reassuringly safe product.
Junior Design ICON: Medela Freestyle Flex Double Electric Breast Pump
Country of Origin:Â Switzerland
Launched: 2019
The lowdown: Medela’s first wearable hands-free double electric breast pump is the ultimate in flexible expressing. No more plugging in and sitting stationary for what can feel like, or can even be hours, extracting that precious milk! Ultralightweight and easy to wear discreetly and easy to clean in the dishwasher, this is a breast pump that combines practicality with comfort and performance.
Why we love it : The slow build pumping, designed to mimic a baby’s sucking pattern provides excellent performance and we love the app for easy tracking and storage records. The easy-to-wear, sleek design has been created with ultimate comfort and practicality in mind.
Junior Design ICON:Â Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier Harmony
Country of Origin:Â Sweden
Launched: 1973
The lowdown: BabyBjörn launched their first ever baby carrier in 1973 and have continued to create safe and comfy baby carriers that give parents confidence and freedom. The latest incarnation of their iconic baby carrier is made from an eco-friendly melange fabric that wicks moisture away from babies’ skin and makes them feel as if they’ve been cocooned by a cloud.
Why we love it: This clever design feels extremely secure and its easy-click fasteners make baby-wearing a doddle, giving parents a sense of confidence, closeness and freedom to roam in the early months of parenting.
Junior Design ICON:Â Sylvanian Families
Country of Origin:Â Japan
Launched: 1985
The lowdown: These adorable animal characters hailing from idyllic Sylvania, launched in the UK in 1987 and have been a top-selling toy ever since. As collectable as ever, the Sylvanians have now found cult status on TikTok but we prefer the more slow-living lifestyle of our favourite woodland friends in their various quaint abodes.
Why we love it: Tactile, well-made and extremely cute, these animals are perfect for encouraging role-play and letting little imaginations run wild with their beautiful homes and accessories. Mini property investors will love the modest Red Roof Cosy Cottage, eventually sizing up to the grand Red Roof Country House.
Junior Design ICON:Â The Bugaboo Donkey 5
Country of Origin:Â Holland
Launched: 2011
The lowdown: Having spotted a gap in the market for a buggy that combined high function and form, a graduation project designed by Max Barenbrug evolved from college prototype to shop floor success in 1999. Since then the Dutch brand has continued to refine and innovate and the top-selling Bugaboo Donkey, a double pram designed for growing families and now in its fifth iteration, is the perfect example of this.
Why we love it: For parents of twins or toddlers this buggy is a game-changer. The super lightweight frame, streamlined shape, capacious storage and easy steering make day-to-day life so much easier, while the option of converting it into a single buggy when two seats are no longer required makes it a versatile and long-lasting investment.
Junior Design ICON:Â Sophie La Girafe
Country of Origin:Â France
Launched:Â 1961
The lowdown: Made entirely from 100% natural rubber and food-grade paint, this iconic teether, is a friend to countless babies around the world and is recommended by both dentists and paediatricians. Designed to be easy to hold – that long neck is great for little hands to grip onto – it is the perfect first toy that soothes teething pains and stimulates the five key senses.
Why we love it: Who doesn’t love the cute smiley face of Sophie the little French Giraffe? Not only is this a beautiful-looking teething toy with vintage charm but babies really do love it. You’ll see an instant bond as soon as you hand it to them.
