Creativity of Toy Designers Employed in Labour Co-Operatives in the Peoples Republic of Poland and Limiting Factors Thereof

Abstract

During the communistic time period in Poland (Polish PRL state) people bought toys at the toys shops, the “RUCH” chain retailer and press shops, dedicated equipment stores for the scouts (Skladnica Harcerska) and at the church consecration festivals.Only few people got US dollar or other western currencies to buy imported western toys at special designated foreign currency shops “Pewex”. The majority of the teddy bears, toy cars and plastic blocks have been made domestically. Despite of the material and production technology shortage there have been many different toys in diverse quality on the market. Some of them good made and very popular. This was in major cases thanks to good designers. Those toys have been produced between 1940-1980 and distributed in special retail shops (PDT). In my article I will illustrate their history and daily problems and challenges of the employees working there.

Keywords

• zabawki, projektanci, wzornictwo, spółdzielnie, prl