MoFU Mighty Omega Folding Universe Puzzle Spillsaach by Yoshiaki Ito

MoFU Mighty Omega Folding Universe Puzzle Spillsaach by Yoshiaki Ito is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2020 A' Design Award an Gold in Spillsaachen, Spiller an Hobbyprodukter Design Competition Category.

GoldSpillsaach· 2020

MoFU Mighty Omega Folding Universe Puzzle Spillsaach

by Yoshiaki Ito

Client: MoFU

A' Design Award an Gold Winner in Spillsaach Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #100594

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

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The Design

About MoFU Mighty Omega Folding Universe Puzzle Spillsaach

Morphits (fréier bekannt als MoFU) sinn transforméierend Spillsaachen déi gläichzäiteg als Kniwwelspuzzele funktionéieren. Dës kuboidförmeg Spillsaachen rutschen aus Këschtchen op Tiräng eraus an entfalen sech a verschidden Déieren wéi Schwäin, Äffen, Tiger, Nilpäerd a Giraffen. All Déier huet seng eege schéin an ënnerscheedlech Eegeschaften, wat si zu charmantem Charaktere mécht. Mee d'richteg Erausfuerderung läit dran, d'Morphits nees an déi korrekt kuboid Form ze falten, wat Gehirleeschtung erfuerdert fir de puzzelege Aufgab ze léisen, si präzis nees an hir Këschtchen ze passen.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award an Gold

MoFU Mighty Omega Folding Universe Puzzle Spillsaach ass e Gewënner vum A' Design Award an Gold, enger héich prestigiéiser Unerkennung, déi un éischtklassesch, wonnerbar an erausragend Designe vergi gëtt. Gold-Gewënner si ganz innovativ, visionär a blendend glänzend Kreatiounen, déi d'Talent, d'Wäisheet an d'Fäegkeete vun hire Designer reflektéieren. Et gëtt erwaart, datt MoFU Mighty Omega Folding Universe Puzzle Spillsaach eng héich gelueften, trendsetzend a monumental Erfindung ass, déi beispillosen Wäert liwwert. Dëst mam Gold ausgezeechent Design ass e spektakuläert, respektéiert Projet, dat d'Grenze vun der Konscht, der Wëssenschaft, vum Design an der Technologie erweidert. MoFU Mighty Omega Folding Universe Puzzle Spillsaach erzeegt intensiv Wënsch, erweckt Leidenschaft, encouragéiert Kreativitéit a faszinéiert eis.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: MoFU are transforming toys that are also brainteaser puzzles. Starting as identically shaped cuboids that slide out of boxes on drawers, each MoFU unfolds into a different kind of animal - pig, monkey, tiger, hippo, and giraffe. Each animal is its own character with cute and iconic features, but each is also a distinct puzzle. Folding a MoFU back into the correct cuboid shape so it can perfectly fit back into its box is a brainteasing challenge.
Dimensions & Packaging: 85mm x 70mm x 60mm when folded in their 3D-printed boxes and at their most compact. Dimensions change with various poses. The maximum possible height is the fully unfolded giraffe at 370mm, and the minimum possible height is a fully recumbent monkey at 35mm.
Tags: Toys, Animals, Ecology, Recycled, Plastic, Geometric, Abstract, Transforming, Brainteaser, Puzzle
Production Technology: MoFU are 3D-printed using 100% recycled PET plastic from water bottles using selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printing. The 3D-printed pieces of the toy are united by elastic bands which run through the center of each piece. The pieces are finished with polyshot surfacing and deep-dye coloring for safe use by children and maximum lifespan.
Design Challenge: I had to think about the shape of each piece very carefully and how it could fit with its neighboring piece like a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle. Additionally all of the pieces had to be folded together into the rectangular shape of their box.
Research: Each piece of each toy had to be precisely shaped to fit with its neighboring piece like a 3D jigsaw puzzle. Pieces that approximate parts of an animal body must also be folded and nestled in a specific way, fitting perfectly together to revert to a cuboid shape.

Finding the perfect tension of the elastic bands was difficult as the pieces must freely rotate and fold, but not be at all loose. The holes bored for the bands had to be precise to the half-millimeter for the toy to function properly.
Inspiration: Japanese origami, Kumiki puzzles, Transformers.
Project Duration: MoFU project development started in Brooklyn, NY in April 2018. The first animal, a pig, was created in May 2018; the monkey was finished in September 2018; the tiger in December 2018, the hippo in March 2019, and the giraffe in Jun 2019.
Operation Flow: MoFU emerge from identically shaped boxes, but each transforms into a different animal figure with articulated joints. Elastic bands form the animals' tendons and ligaments, allowing maximum transformability and infinite possible poses.

The toys are figurines, but they are also puzzles with varying degrees of difficulty. Folding them back into the correct cuboid shape so that they can fit back into their boxes ranges from simple for a child hippo to difficult for an adult monkey.
Patents: Yoshiaki Ito
Image Credits: Photgrapes by Yoshiaki Ito, Video by Aria Wetzler and Yana Birykova