Turning Luck DIY Wooden Automaton Toy by Wong Li Tong Is Granted the Silver A' Design Award in Toys, Games and Hobby Products Design

Wong Li Tong honored for toys, games and hobby products design by the international grand jury of the 2023 - 2024 A' Design Award & Competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COMO, Italy, April 17, 2024 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has announced that Turning Luck DIY Wooden Automaton Toy by Wong Li Tong, designed for Department of Visual Communication Design, has been granted the Silver A' Design Award in the Toys, Games and Hobby Products Design category. The result belongs to the 2023 - 2024 A' Design Award & Competition and was reached through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who evaluated anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.

What the Silver A' Design Award Means

The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.

Regarding Turning Luck DIY Wooden Automaton Toy

The Turning Luck collection brings global good fortune to life through a series of interactive DIY automaton toys. Each model features a renowned lucky charm from diverse cultures, including the Maneki-neko and dreamcatchers, fostering a sense of cultural discovery. Vibrant colors and intricate illustrations represent each charm's unique heritage, while dynamic mechanical movements bring their symbolic luck to life. This all-in-one design minimizes waste by eliminating external packaging, contributing to a more sustainable user experience.

Award Record

This recognition makes Wong Li Tong a winner of 1 A' Design Award.

About the A' Toys, Games and Hobby Products Design Award

The A' Toy Design Award is an international toy design competition recognizing good toy designs by best toy designers, manufacturers and brands worldwide. The competition is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to toy designers, game studios, industrial designers and hobby product manufacturers from all countries. Entries typically include dolls, action figures, board games, puzzles, plush toys and educational toys. Awarded toy designs are published at https://designers.org/design-category/toy

About A' Design Award & Competition

A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade organized annually since 2008. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The A' Design Award has a philanthropic mission to advance society through good design by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Entries are peer reviewed and anonymously evaluated by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. The A' Design Prize granted to eligible laureates includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, the upload of a work and the preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. Further information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com

Press Resources

Winner Page: https://designers.org/159550
A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/159550
Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!159550
Laureate Profile: https://designers.org/d/353726
Further Information from the Laureate: https://turningluck.webflow.io/

Media Contact

Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953

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Fact Sheet

The Work

Project: Turning Luck DIY Wooden Automaton Toy
Function: DIY Wooden Automaton Toy
Category: Toys, Games and Hobby Products Design
Discipline: Industrial Design
Industry: Kids
Colors: Bisque, Dark Salmon, White Smoke, Burly Wood and Peru
Images: 5
Client: Department of Visual Communication Design

The Recognition

Laureate: Wong Li Tong
Country: Taiwan (China)
Recognition: Silver A' Design Award
Edition: 2023 - 2024
Design ID: #159550

Credits

Team: LAU YOONG GUANN, NG KOK KIANG and LIM CHIEW HONG
Image Credits: Designer Ng Kok Kiang,2023.; Designer Lim Chiew Hong,2023.

Design Details

Unique Properties: The 'Turning Luck' is a series of DIY automaton toys that users assemble, integrating mechanical interaction with cultural icons of good fortune. Featuring ten lucky charms from around the world like the Maneki-neko, Dala Horse, and horseshoe, each represents diverse cultural backgrounds and embodies unique aspirations for positive living. As users turn the handle, each model's vibrant effects come alive, promoting cultural exchange and sparking positive energy and playful interaction.
Inspiration: In today's world, many seek good fortune and positive energy when facing life's challenges, desiring inner peace beyond material gain. 'Turning Luck' offers a hands-on experience with dynamic wooden models, allowing users to explore the symbolism behind global lucky charms. Users explore the symbolism of each lucky charm, gaining insight into diverse cultural traditions, fostering respect for global diversity, and ultimately creating a positive and enjoyable interactive experience.
Research: We chose the theme of "good luck" because many Taiwanese turn to superstitious practices in life's challenges, seeking solace and satisfaction. These traditions, like Taiwan's "Guai Guai" snack and Japan's "Maneki-neko" reflect unique cultural practices worldwide. Coming from Malaysia, we're inspired by this enthusiasm, driving our curiosity to explore luck traditions globally.
Challenge: Our initial vision was a mobile game where players strategically placed lucky charms, but we realized it lacked the genuine feeling of "good luck." So, we turned global lucky charms into DIY assembly models. Users build and interact with these models, experiencing the essence of good fortune firsthand. Designing dynamic movements was our main challenge. With thorough sketches and prototypes, we ensured smooth assembly and engaging functionality, resulting in a truly interactive
Realization and Technology: The 'Turning Luck' emphasizes environmental sustainability with eco-friendly materials like MDF and acrylic panels. Assembly tutorial videos on the official website minimize paper and ink waste. MDF is laser-cut and UV printed with our designs before packaging. The acrylic panels showcase elements representing ten countries, allowing users to see rotating gears inside. The website includes assembly tutorials, cultural stories for each charm, and showcases our brand's story and philosophy.
Operation and Interaction: Users can scan the QR code on the packaging to access the official website, where they can read the culture stories behind each lucky charm and watch assembly tutorial videos to assemble the model themselves. Once the model is assembled, they can then turn the handle on the model to activate its dynamic visual effects.
Project Duration and Location: The project will start in Taiwan in June 2023, be completed in Taiwan in January 2024, and have an on-campus exhibition at the university in January 2024. The follow-up plan is to exhibit at the Taiwan National Design Exhibition in May and June 2024.
Specifications: Product Size Galo de Barcelos:210 x 75 x 200(mm) Maneki-neko:210 x 75 x 210(mm) Horseshoes:210 x 75 x 180(mm) Fairy Fox:210 x 75 x 200(mm) Pysanka:210 x 75 x 180(mm) Hamsa Hand:210 x 75 x 160(mm) Daruma Doll:210 x 75 x 190(mm) Dreamcatchers:210 x 75 x 215(mm) Sun Vastu:210 x 75 x 215(mm) Dala Horse:210 x 75 x 220(mm) Packing box size：210 × 45 × 100(mm) All the model parts can be stored inside the model, so the product does not require any additional packaging.
Keywords: Positive Life, Interactive Design, Intercultural Communication, Entertainment, Environmentally Friendly, Puzzle Type