Balance bike Choppy is the second product of an enthusiastic and friendly design and engineering team. After the success of our first balance bike - the award-winning Brum Brum Bike - we took up the challenge of making…
01What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
Balance bike Choppy is the second product of an enthusiastic and friendly design and engineering team. After the success of our first balance bike - the award-winning Brum Brum Bike - we took up the challenge of making our next bike lighter, more nature-friendly, comfortable, and better suited for kids up to 4 years of age.
02What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
To build this bike as eco-friendly as possible. Less metal (no metal screws or bearings), tool-less assembling and 2nd life for packaging.
03What are your future plans for this award winning design?
We are now approaching the point when Choppy will begin commercial production and set off to conquer the world.
04How long did it take you to design this particular concept?
First sketches came out in 2017. Industrial prototyping ended just in 2021.
05Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
We just had an idea to create a balance bike for kids without any screws and it all began by itself.
06Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?
All parts are produced, packed and sent out by outsource companies. We have a back office to manage it.
07What made you design this particular type of work?
We have huge knowledge of how to design and produce a wooden balance bike for kids and this was the next step with better solutions.
08Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?
Predecessor wooden balance bikes for kids and some unrealistic design concepts from several designers.
09Who is the target customer for his design?
Choppy is the perfect first bike for 1-4 year-olds. Main customers are parents who care about sustainability and are eco-friendly minded.
10What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?
Choppy is probably the lightest wooden balance bike for kids in the world. It can be assembled as a construction game or building blocks without using any tools. Its packaging box has a board game printed on it, making Choppy even more fun.
11How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
It looks like chopper motorcycle on lowest position of assembly for the smallest drivers. We made the word "Chopper" more playful.
12Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?
Everything happens in my head and I use paper or software just to understand, if it works or not.
13What is the most unique aspect of your design?
The balance bike features an innovative design without a single screw. Any adult can assemble the Choppy bike and adjust its height without using any tools.
14Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?
We worked together with Riga Technical University Science and Innovation Center on prototyping and best material research. Industrial prototyping happened in factories where we are producing the bike - Daiļrade koks (wood), Rumba-V (plastic) and Stora Enso (packaging).
15What is the role of technology in this particular design?
Knowledge about plywood bending techologies and possibility of machines being able to cut out very precise details had a big role. Special type of polymers helped use plastic bearings instead of metal and made tubeless tires of wheels.
16Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?
We collected all the measurements and weights of our friends toddlers to calculate the correct shape of bike.
17What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
Industrial prototyping. Every single change took months. There are big machines with big forms that you need disassemble, change shape of the form and then assemble. Then try again.
18How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?
We had many awards with our first product - Brum Brum bike. Submission of Choppy bike to the competition was logical.
19What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?
Design studio STUM was born during this process. Now we have a place to design, prototype and have fun.
បទសម្ភាសន៍អ្នករចនា
39 សំណួរ
During childhood, while others dreamed of becoming astronauts, policemen or cowboys, I knew I was going to be an architect. At age 5 I was drawing intricate designs of building facades and interiors.
01Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
During childhood, while others dreamed of becoming astronauts, policemen or cowboys, I knew I was going to be an architect. At age 5 I was drawing intricate designs of building facades and interiors. Then I became one and it wasn't enough.
02Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
Our company is a recent creation, that grew while designing our first product. A need for a company came with the development of new designs.
03What is "design" for you?
Human-made things and interactions with them and between them.
04What kinds of works do you like designing most?
In architecture I enjoy reconstructing old buildings, while giving them a new life and keeping as much of its heritage as possible. Within architecture and design alike I'm a minimalist.
05What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
Alvar Aalto, Chair number 41. Latvians have a very close relationship with forests and everything made from wood. Here in Latvia we have a long history of producing plywood. Also, of making things from bended plywood.
06What was the first thing you designed for a company?
My first product was the Brum Brum bike, which we made in a team, that is part of the design studio STUM crew now.
07What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
Bended plywood is my favorite material. If we're talking about technology, then it's 3D modeling and augmented reality.
08When do you feel the most creative?
At night.
09Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
Less details and clear shapes.
10What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
I don’t design by sitting and doing it. Everything happens in my head. Also 3D, detail connections and materials. Paper or laptop are just tools to show and explain how it will work.
11What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
It is always a lengthy way from sketch to ready product. It's like "Yes, we did it!".
12What makes a design successful?
If you can interact with it without any special knowledge.
13When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
Usability. Design needs to work for you, not you for the design.
14From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
Sustainability. Transportation and packaging are the biggest mess in consumer society. Use of local materials and technology is necessary for me.
15How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
Bigger population, additional tasks to resolve. In the future I see more useful design solutions and less "brand" or "rockstar" designs to make more money.
16When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
I haven’t had any exhibitions yet. I don’t think about it.
17Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
Science. You can create something new only when all the parts are connected - materials, technology, needs.
18How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
Minimalism.
19Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
Latvia. Small country in the North of Europe. We have a long sea coastline with white sand. We collect mushrooms and berries in the woods, celebrate ancient festivals at countryside. Connection with nature is very close.
21What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
There is not a perfect formula for it. First conversation will tell you to chose this or the other designer. You can find solutions for your problems together but not ask to just realize your tasks.
22Can you talk a little about your design process?
Everything happens in my head and I use paper or software just to understand, if it works or not.
23What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
My 3 sofas, electric kettle and our design lamp prototype I have in my room.
24Can you describe a day in your life?
Lazy morning. E-mails. Some outdoor work. Evening with friends or some musical event. Night at home watching movies or working. Radio broadcasts (I'm a radio DJ) every sunday.
25Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
Design for real needs, not for yourself.
26From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
Only positives :)
27What is your "golden rule" in design?
Less is more.
28What skills are most important for a designer?
All. You need to know something about everything.
29Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
ArchiCAD, SketchUP, Lumion, Photoshop.
30How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
First prototypes come quickly, but sometimes it takes a few years till the end result.
31What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
How much does it cost to....
32What was your most important job experience?
Industrial prototyping of Choppy bike.
33Who are some of your clients?
Mostly we are our clients but sometimes friends who ask for a solution or just help to finish their ideas.
34What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
I enjoy all parts of my job. It's necessary to love what you are doing.
35What are your future plans? What is next for you?
Build STUM design studio to make new designs, prototyping and enjoy time with friends which are involved in processes.
36Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
We are a team of approximately 10 people who do some work time from time.
37Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
We are working on a ceiling light object. Two types of prototypes are built already, but it’s still in progress.
38How can people contact you?
You can write a private message on the most popular social networking places.
39Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
A' Design Award គឺជាពានរង្វាន់រចនាល្អអន្តរជាតិដែលវាយតម្លៃដោយគណៈកម្មការ។ ចូលរួមក្នុង A' Design Award ដើម្បីទទួលបានឱកាសក្នុងការទទួលស្គាល់ដោយគុណសម្បត្តិ ទទួលបានកិត្តិនាម កិត្តិយស និងការផ្សព្វផ្សាយសម្រាប់ការងាររបស់អ្នក។ ដាក់ស្នាដៃរបស់អ្នកសម្រាប់ A' Design Award ហើយប្រកួតប្រជែងដើម្បីឈ្នះ A' Design Prize ដ៏គោរពរាប់អាន។
