Gold Baby, Kids' and Children's Products Design · 2020
Kayoni Construction Set
- A' Design Award 2020 Gold Winner in Baby, Kids' and Children's Products Design
- Awarded April 15, 2020
- CLIENT: Kayoni
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 52,457
- Verification code F99D948BDE · Verify this award
About Kayoni Construction Set
Kayoni is a modular construction set for children. The set is based on a 50 mm cube module, and each block is formed from five to eight cubes. Interconnecting pins and pockets allow vertical, horizontal and angled assembly, so blocks are joined by blocks alone. The blocks are cut from high grade EVA rubber in palette colours by precision laser and water jet cutting. A dimensional tolerance of one millimetre supports assembly in multiple orientations. Sets contain 8 to 72 blocks with illustrated assemblies. Kayoni is intended to stimulate creativity, learning and logic through play.
Situated within the contemporary tradition of developmentally-informed play objects, the Kayoni Construction Set by D&D Contracting ApS represents a thoughtful synthesis of chromatic theory, geometric vocabulary, and tactile engagement principles that have characterized progressive educational toy design since the early twentieth century. The work demonstrates sophisticated understanding of how children develop spatial reasoning, with each piece offering multiple orientation possibilities through its notched recesses and projecting elements, inviting exploration of fit, balance, and structural relationship. The chromatic program appears deliberately calibrated to span the visible spectrum while maintaining sufficient saturation to engage young visual systems, with each hue occupying distinct chromatic territory that facilitates color naming and differentiation learning. Compositionally, the arrangement presented here suggests narrative possibility, with forms positioned as though engaged in architectural dialogue, some standing upright in tower configurations while others rest horizontally or lean at angles suggesting recent placement or imminent repositioning. The material choice of foam, evident in the fine surface texture, speaks to safety considerations while maintaining sufficient structural integrity for stacking and building operations. The geometric vocabulary, comprising I-forms, C-curves, H-configurations, and cross shapes, references both alphabetic learning and fundamental architectural elements, potentially supporting multiple developmental domains simultaneously. The designer seems to have considered how the relationship between positive form and negative space within each piece creates opportunities for discovery, as children explore how projections fit recesses and how various combinations yield stable or precarious structures. One might contemplate how such objects serve as introduction to physical principles of balance, gravity, and spatial relationship while simultaneously developing fine motor control and creative confidence.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- By means of vision, applied technology, precision tools and a tight mathematical design concept, is bridging the range of Kayoni-blocks. A modular system demonstra-ting unique and high versatility in construction and assembly possibilities and allowing vertical, horizontal as well as angled assembly of blocks - simply by blocks. Kayoni has challenged known construction set concepts and is pushing boundaries. Kayoni is designed to stimulate creativity, learning and logic through playing.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Kayoni in eva varies in size from 50 x 150 x 100 mm in cubed dimension of the smallest to 50 x 150 x 200 mm of the largest. Dimensions and contents of a set depends on the variety and quantity of Kayoni-blocks included. The smallest product cotton bag measuring 350 x 400mm and the largest 500 x 700 mm. Product bags are optimized for a transport carton measuring 194 x 585 x 585 mm for stacking on transports pallets for optimized logistics.
- Tags
- Toy, Building Blocks, Construction Sets, STEM, Creativity, Learning, Education, Children, Kids, Educational Toy
- Production Technology
- Kayoni eva's are shaped by precision laser and water jet cutting. Blocks are based on a 50 x 50 x 50 mm cube modulo, from 5 cubes to create a plus-shaped block to 8 cubes in the largest block. Cube dimensional tolerance is 1mm facilitating multiple orientation assembly of blocks. High grade eva-rubbers in palette colors are used. In process quality controls and lab testing of raw materials and fof inished blocks assures non-presence of i.e. prohibited Phthalates as per children toys regulations.
- Design Challenge
- To create a versatile construction set of quality and dura-bility in materials of good hygiene and safety properties. This realized by a tight mathematics design and by high precision requirements to manufacturing tools and thorough understanding of material properties and closed foam cell structures together with assessments of feasible technologies, accuracy laser and water cutting given a 50 mm cube dimensional modulo. Finally, trademarks and design patents registrations took time.
- Project Duration
- The Kayoni-project initiated in Copenhagen, Denmark end 2016. First time exhibited in selected sneak pre-views of its eva-series at the KL Children and Youth Congress in Aalborg, Denmark January 2019. In October 2019 Kayoni was commercially introduced to market in its first, ready to launch, eva series.
- Operation Flow
- Kayoni in eva is of various forms, sizes and colors given a 50 mm modulo. Interconnecting pins and pockets allows assembly in multiple orientations with limitless opportunities. Kayoni in eva comes in sets of 8 to 72 blocks with illustrated assemblies. Kayoni stimulate learning, selected competencies and skill building through playing and facilitate interaction and developing of social skills. Kayoni in eva is suitable to toddlers, kids, children and parents anywhere - home or kindergarten.
- Research
- Objective: To create a toy series inspiring creativity and learning. Tests made on materials and on technologies. 9 eva composites tested on properties and compliance. 11 precision laser and water jets were tested. Tests of compounds, colorants, finished products and packing materials made by labs. Marketing research - focus groups, and user acceptance testing in market together with literature, labs, engineers, graphic designers and pedagogues contributing insights, input and feedbacks.
- Inspiration
- To create a visionary modular system customed to competencies of various age groups and different from conventional thinking. A concept aimed to inspire and stimulate, and to creatively develop, selected compe-tencies, skills and logic through playing and fun, and which would advance also social interaction and developing of social skills. From that Kayoni evolved addressing by its EVA (eva) material blocks, series and concept the age groups of toddlers, preschoolers and school-aged children.
- Patents
- Danish Register of Trademarks. VR 2018 00153. D&D Contracting ApS. 2018. Kingdom of Demark
Register of European Union trade marks. 016304321. D&D Contracting ApS. 2017. European Union.
United States Patent and Trademark Office. 79-213,438. D&D Contracting ApS. 2017. United States of America