As spring breathes new life into New York City, creativity and fresh ideas are in full bloom at Kikkerland. We're excited to share that the Kikkerland x Barnes & Noble x Pratt Design Challenge product showcase is now available in Barnes & Noble stores nationwide -- just in time for NYCxDESIGN, the city’s annual week-long celebration of design innovation.
Look out for the display in the check-out lane, offering customers an exclusive look at the innovative designs from Pratt Industrial Design departments’ emerging talent.
Under the guidance of Constantin Boym, Pratt students embarked on a semester-long journey to design products that resonate with book lovers, blending Kikkerland’s signature playful spirit with the Barnes & Noble shopping experience.
The 2024 Design Challenge winners take center stage, with a special spotlight on Isabela Nery’s Book Voyager, the Academic Choice Winner selected by a jury of Barnes & Noble and Kikkerland design team members. The Book Voyager is a clever, portable book jacket and stand, designed for readers on the go.
Initial prototype of the Book Voyager by Isabela Nery
“I cycled through many concepts, but I was most passionate about the idea of a book sleeve that doubles as a stand, catering to avid readers on the go,” Isabela explained.
Raised in Brazil, Isabela grew up in a culture surrounded by creativity and craftsmanship. This early exposure inspired her to pursue Industrial Design, focusing on products that could brighten peoples lives. Being a book lover herself, Isabela was thrilled to collaborate with Barnes & Noble for this project:
"The chance to create designs centered around one of my greatest passions was truly exciting. I wanted to create something that truly enhances the reading experience while feeling natural in a bookstore setting."
In addition to the Book Voyager, the showcase will feature a selection of other standout designs from the 2024 Design Challenge competition:
- Cookbook Ends – Designed by Aarushi Talesara, this set of stylish bookends doubles as a utensil holder, offering both form and function for modern kitchens:
- Annotation Garden – This set of floral-shaped stickers created by Doreen Riso transforms book annotations into a blooming display, making it a perfect springtime bookstore pick-up:
- Pen Pup – A charming, molded sculpture designed by Lin Chen, this adorable dog-shaped pen holder helps readers keep their place while keeping a pen handy:
Beyond the latest designs, the showcase will also feature winners from our previous Design Challenges, bringing back fan favorites such as the Luchador Bottle Opener, Fisherman Tea Holder, Cherry Blossom Mug, and many more.
“We are thrilled to see this collaboration with Pratt Institute come to life in Barnes & Noble stores,” said Jan van der Lande, CEO and Founder of Kikkerland. “It’s great to give young designers a platform, and as a design company, it’s just part of what we should be doing.”
The Kikkerland x Barnes & Noble x Pratt Design Challenge collection will be available in stores starting May 2025, available exclusively at Barnes & Noble. It’s the only place in the US to shop these innovative products before they hit the market! Visit your local store to support emerging designers and take home something truly original.