Fredun Shapur

Fredun Shapur deserves to be added to those designers such as Bruno Munari & Charles and Ray Eames who saw designing for children as important as any other work. For some time now the toy dsigns of Fredun shapur have gatheree interest and attracted collectors and recently an exhibition too, at the Kemistry Gallery in London

Shapur's career demonstrates the internationalism of design and he has worked in London, Switzerland and in the USA. Shapur studied at the Central School, then at The Royal College where his tutors included Abram Games and Edward Bawden.  

Shapur was inspired by the modernist Czech toys for children and, when he opened his office in 1959 he began to design toys, firstly for his own children, but then for Galt and for Creative Playthings.

Interestingly, and somewhat unknown, was his work as designer for Topic Recordsin the late 50s. Topic were the radical Folk Label, championing CND and resurrecting the English Folk legacy, as well as importing the Blues, Gospel and Folk of the American labels.