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Activity Funded

TWIN | Toy Heritage as a Way to Innovation: Bridging Past and Future to Play

TWIN | Brinquedos históricos como ferramenta para a inovação: Juntar o passado e o futuro através do brincar

Reference
2024.13332.PEX
Project Start Date
2026-02-02
Project End Date
2027-08-01
Principal Investigator
Scientific Area
Humanities
Funding Program
Concurso para Projetos de Investigação de caráter Exploratório em Todos os Domínios Científicos 2024

Abstract

Toys are more than objects of play; they are cultural artifacts that reflect technological, industrial, and social dynamics. The Portuguese tinplate toy industry (1920–1960) , though often overlooked, stands out for its resourceful reuse of materials—such as recycled tinplate from the canning industry—and its adaptation of foreign production techniques from more industrialized countries. The TWIN project is an exploratory study that investigates tinplate toy heritage, testing new interdisciplinary methodologies to connect historical toy design with contemporary challenges in sustainability, innovation, education, and cultural significance. By combining historical research, technical analysis, and design experimentation, TWIN will assess the potential of toy heritage as a tool for creative development and contemporary cultural production. This project aims to answer key questions relevant to both heritage preservation and innovation: How can we develop sustainable and meaningful toys inspired by historical craftsmanship? How do material and technical choices influence the durability and conservation of tinplate toys? Can the study of historical playthings inform the creation of future toys with enhanced educational and cultural value? To address these questions, TWIN will implement an experimental and multidisciplinary approach, organized into three key phases: - Historical and Sociocultural Research – Investigating the origins, economic context, and cultural role of Portuguese tinplate toys, analysing their significance in both national and international landscapes.  A key focus will be the industrial hub of Valongo Municipality, considered the cradle of Portuguese toy manufacturing, where the concentration of factories played a crucial role in shaping the national toy industry. Through this case study, the project will explore the interplay between local production, international influences, and the social impact of toys in mid-20th century Portugal. - Material and Technical Analysis – Comparing Portuguese tinplate toys with industrialized models, particularly German ones, to assess materials, mechanisms, production methods, and conservation challenges. This analysis will be based on objects from distinct Portuguese collections (e.g. Museu do Brinquedo, Museu do Caramulo and Museu do Brinquedo Português), which house both Portuguese tinplate toys and German imports from the same period, allowing for a direct comparison of design, materials, and technical adaptations. - Bridging Toy Heritage, Design, and Public Engagement – Exploring how insights from toy heritage can inform experimental contemporary design practices through a hands-on workshop with designers, engineers, physicists, sociologists, historians, and museum curators. This phase will test how research findings on materials, techniques, and cultural significance can be integrated into modern toy development. Additionally, exhibitions and interdisciplinary collaborations will serve as testing grounds to engage researchers, designers, industry professionals, and the public, ensuring that the project’s impact extends beyond academia. To support this exploratory research, TWIN brings together a highly interdisciplinar team of historians, sociologists, engineers, physicists, conservators, and designers from leading public and private institutions, including NOVA-FCT, NOVA-FCSH, IST, and Brand& Advise. The project also benefits from an international component, with participation of consultants from two renowned institutions specializing in toy heritage and tinplate studies: the Deutsches Museum (Germany) and HE-ARC (Switzerland). The study will be grounded in objects from significant Portuguese museums (e.g., the Museu do Brinquedo Museu do Caramulo and Museu do Brinquedo Português), providing a rich empirical foundation for research and testing. By connecting past innovations with contemporary challenges, TWIN will generate key insights that pave the way for future large-scale research projects. More than preserving toys as historical artifacts, this project reimagines them as sources of inspiration for meaningful and sustainable design. As an exploratory study, TWIN will not only enhance academic understanding of toy heritage but also act as a catalyst for innovative design practices and educational tools, bridging history with contemporary creativity.

Institutions

Main Institutions

  • Universidade Nova de Lisboa Associação para a Inovação e Desenvolvimento da FCT (NOVA.ID.FCT)

Other Institutions

  • Universidade de Lisboa Centro de Química Estrutural (CQE)
  • Universidade de Coimbra Centre for Functional Ecology - Science for People& the Planet (UC CFE)
  • Brand And Advise - Consultoria em Design, Unipessoal, Lda. (Rui Catalão atelier)

Funding 59.992,69 €

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - Portugal

59.992,69 €