It is not surprising that it is Bondi Group whoever designed the local version of our beloved Playmobil. But it does make me happy.
It is not surprising because they carry Argentinity as their banner, from their name and logo to the products and everyday objects that they rescue and value. For example, the ice bucket with ice in the shape of the Falkland Islands because “the water on our table is also sovereign.”
Like the icebox, What a Playmobil It also has a political drop that is also social and inclusive: the designs are free and can be downloaded for free from anywhere in the world.
“I don’t remember when we started planning this project, but we made it happen during the pandemic,” he says. Ivan Lopez Prystajkopartner of Grupo Bondi along with Eugenio Gómez Llambí. “We did all this development of Che Playmobil with Hernan Ohashia friend who is a specialist in toy design.”
Beyond the time available in 2020, the date coincided with “a possible technological time. Before, we had no idea how to solve it and without being able to access matrices or another solution it would only be a render,” continues López Prystajko.
But the possibilities of 3d print They revived the illusion and the industrial designers at FADU found a new meaning for it: that it was free and open source.
Gauchito Gil, Grupo Bondi’s tribute to our “popular saint”.“So we put together the project and presented it to Patronage. It took a long time, but when we obtained the financing we were able to move forward with the ideas,” he continues.
Argentine customs
“Playmobil is a German mega-company, very well-known but very internationalized and global. For this reason, there are no local references in their designs. We wanted to give it a twist and look for that identity issue 100% Argentina”, describe.
Old men’s bar: older people, inclusive, who sit down to drink vermouth and are served by a waiter.Currently, there are available six themes: Peopincho, Chulengo, Gauchito Gil, Bar de Viejes, Sodero and Patio de la Nona.
“Thinking about it while I talk to you, I feel that you have a very urban logic. Because of the Pelopincho and the patio, which in CABA are not very common in all houses. “I can’t imagine the pool in an apartment,” she reflects out loud.
Scheme for assembling the pelopincho.López Prystajko anticipates that they are working on a design for mate. “It is being difficult for us to solve it technically because the little hand has to be able to grab it and because the light bulb is very thin,” she explains. And he adds that they take great care of the details and that they conform to the Playmobil style, “which has everything very well resolved and is very net.”
Grupo Bondi uploaded the first designs in September 2023 from its own networks. Near the beginning of the year, he put together a specific Instagram and it was a boom. “Since January went viral in a way we can’t imagine. We already have more than a thousand downloads. People write to us with a lot of love and thank us,” she says.
Accessories for the sodero: cap, drawer and siphons – Photo: Cecilia Escamilla.In the Instagram account from Che Playmobil you can access the link from where you can download the six models. “We took advantage of an existing, well-known platform and uploaded everything there. The accessories can be downloaded and 3D printed,” he continues.
If you do not have a printer for three-dimensional designs, Grupo Bondi contacts some people who offer the service.
Chulengo scheme.“We don’t ask Playmobil for anything, neither help nor permission. What we are doing are accessories that are used for dolls. We would love for you to contact us and I hope you agree because we are Playmobil fans“, concludes López Prystajko. «