Previously hidden from view in dark drawers, but now starring as luxury wellness products, sought-after gifts, and stylish designer objects that would not look out of place in modern interiors or even candy shops: sex toys. The exhibition Toy Stories. Designing Intimacy at Kunsthal Rotterdam showcases revolutionary, 21st-century developments in the field of sex toy design. Including various innovative designs — including the TikTok sensation ‘Snail Vibe’ and products embracing inclusivity, sexual wellbeing, and technology — the exhibition shows how these objects reflect contemporary society, highlighting changing views on sexuality and pleasure.
On the basis of themes like health, aesthetics, experience, inclusivity, and materials, Toy Stories. Designing Intimacy offers a multifaceted perspective on the evolution of sex toy design. Sketches, prototypes, casting moulds, and material samples show the processes behind the creation. Recent insights regarding anatomy and technology led to the dawning of a new age in which aesthetics, functionality, and accessibility take centre stage. Organizations led by women, such as The Oh Collective and female designers are playing a vital role in this process and are changing the industry from the inside out.
More than (solo)pleasure
While sex toys were once exclusively phallic-shaped, contemporary designs display a wide range of alternative shapes and functions. People who see the white, elegant geometric objects for men designed by Tenga would never suspect that these are in fact sex toys. This Japanese brand intentionally avoids designing objects resembling body parts to protect their customers from embarrassment. The Rose Toy is another design that is not reminiscent of a sex toy. This bright pink, silicon object is shaped like a rose and has become so popular that multiple companies and designers have since developed their own versions of this product.
The exhibition furthermore zooms in on how today sex toy design not only enhances solo experiences, but also plays a role in shared intimacy. With its ‘Easyconnect’ product, the erotic webshop EasyToys enables intimate interactions at a great distance from each other, while The Oh Collective’s ‘Dream Team’ enhances the interaction between two partners. Innovations like virtual reality and artificial intelligence elevate the concept from a sex toy to a complete experience that transcends physical pleasure. For instance the British designer Summer Chen’s ‘Enigma’, which involves lingerie with haptic sensors that turn physical patterns of touch into data. This data is then converted into textual prompts and sent to a GPT model to generate personalised, erotic narratives.
Health and inclusion
Inclusivity plays a significant role in contemporary sex toy design, with products increasingly catering to a variety of needs, gender identities, physical impairments, and life stage. Several designs show how sex toys can also improve physical and mental health and offer insights into changing social attitudes towards sexual pleasure. These include products by innovative designers who combine scientific research and technology to overcome health issues and improve the sex lives of the people who use them. An example of this is designer Nienke Helder’s ‘Kiwi’. Research shows that 75% of women occasionally experience pain during penetration. The ‘Kiwi’ helps relax the pelvic floor and encourages women to (re)discover positive associations with touch.
Collaboration
The exhibition Toy Stories: Designing Intimacy is created in collaboration with The Oh Collective.
Toy Stories. Designing Intimacy shows products by: The Oh Collective, Tenga, Iroha, Anna Maresova/ Whoop.de.doo, Svibe, Crave, Hot Octopuss, Alina Eynck, EasyToys, Njoy, Dmytro Nikiforchuk, Nienke Helder, My Magic Wand, Celulle Studio, Wild Flower, The Pelvic People, Lioness, Rouze, Summer Chen, Unihorn.
Press
