The spaces that shape a different childhood - the woman behind them | 18.1.26
The Edmond de Rothschild Foundation recently announced the winners of the 2025 Product Design Awards. Among this year’s prominent names is designer Sarit Shani Hay, who won the prestigious award in the Senior Designer category. In the judges’ comments, which included Baroness Ariane de Rothschild, it was noted that “her work demonstrates a pioneering and profound approach to design for children, and that her ongoing contribution shapes not only physical spaces but also educational and cultural perceptions.”
Shani Chai is considered one of the most influential and consistent figures in the field of children’s space design in Israel. Her work operates at the intersection of design, education, culture, and art, focusing on the idea that the physical environment is an active factor in children’s emotional, cognitive, and social development. For her, design is not merely a profession but a calling and a way of life - an ethical stance cultivated through years of sustained work.
