triX Modulair Speelgoed by Vladimir Zagorac

triX Modulair Speelgoed by Vladimir Zagorac is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2017 A' Design Award in Zilver in Speelgoed-, Spellen- en Hobbyproductontwerp Competition Category.

ZilverSpeelgoed· 2017

triX Modulair Speelgoed

by Vladimir Zagorac

Client: triX Modular Toys

A' Design Award in Zilver Winner in Speelgoed Category

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Verified Award Winner

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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About triX Modulair Speelgoed

Book Text: triX is een modulair, verbindbaar speelgoed voor kinderen vanaf vier jaar. Het speelgoed is opgebouwd rond een hexagonaal driedimensionaal raster, waardoor vormen in elke richting kunnen worden uitgebreid. Er worden zes elementen gebruikt: rechte en gebogen verlengstukken, knooppunten met drie en vier assen, verbindingsstukken en dopjes. Een klein aantal onderdelen kan de creativiteit stimuleren en het ruimtelijk inzicht en de motoriek ondersteunen. Dubbelzinnige gedrukte symbolen helpen kinderen emoties uit te drukken en personages te creëren, omdat elk symbool van betekenis verandert door rotatie en plaatsing. Groepsspel kan bovendien de sociale vaardigheden bevorderen.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award in Zilver

triX Modulair Speelgoed is winnaar van de A' Design Award in Zilver, een buitengewoon prestigieuze erkenning die wordt toegekend aan topontwerpen die prachtig en indrukwekkend zijn. Winnaars in Zilver zijn enorm briljante en uiterst creatieve werken die de uitmuntende expertise, het talent en de scherpzinnigheid van hun ontwerpers illustreren. triX Modulair Speelgoed wordt verwacht een prachtig paradepaardje te zijn dat opmerkelijk professioneel en diepgaand innovatief is. Dit ontwerp dat de A' Design Award in Zilver heeft gewonnen, is een hoogst opmerkelijke, bewonderde uitvinding die baat en de grenzen van kunst, wetenschap, ontwerp en technologie verlegt. triX Modulair Speelgoed is een zeer benijde creatie die verlangens oproept, positieve gevoelens brengt en verbazing en verwondering doet ontvlammen.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: triX is a connectable modular toy for children of age 4 plus. Devised around a complex grid, it can contribute to development of spatial thinking and motor skills. The toy can be used to create various types of structures including complex patterns, objects or animals and characters. A small number of parts can encourage creativity, while the child could get the opportunity to learn and express different emotions using funny symbols, and evolve social skills when the toy is used in a group.
Dimensions & Packaging: Straight Extension: 10 x 10 x 22.5mm,
Curved Extension: 10 x 13 x 19.5 mm,
Three axis Node: 15.5 x 13.5 x 13.5mm,
Four axis Node: 16.5 x 15.5 x 13.5mm,
Link: 5 x 5 x 12.2mm,
Cap: 10 x 10 x 11mm
Tags: Child, Play, Creative, Fun, Exploration, Expression, Socialization, Character, Symbols
Production Technology: Different technologies are currently being analyzed in order to find the most cost-effective high series manufacturing process. Non-toxic materials are planned for production: plastic for Nodes, Extensions and Links; rubber for Caps. Graphics are planned in non-toxic tampon and round silk-screen print.
Design Challenge: Determining the most appropriate pattern of growth represented the first challenge, which was made more difficult with the intent to use a minimal number of elements. Creation of universally understandable graphics for facial features and body details on Caps and Straight Extensions represented a challenge of its own. That was made even more complicated with the idea to use ambiguous symbols in order to get a different connotation depending on placement and rotation of the parts.
Research: First stage of research showed a lack of new toys on the market which engage and positively impact creativity. Initial inspiration required analysis and evaluation of different growth patterns in nature. Another stage of research was devoted to creating a familiar toy which encourages interaction and helps develop social skills. This required a research of character and comic-like expressions and minimal communication using symbols and emoticons.
Inspiration: A developing child needs a toy which enables learning trough exploration, creative expression and socialization. triX connectable concept is an open source of creativity inspired by natural growth patterns and universal communication. The basis is found in a hexagonal 3D grid derived from four axes of a tetrahedron. Using this principle, continuation of tridimensional form is always possible in any direction, while simple and versatile parts allow various possibilities of expression.
Project Duration: The project started in Belgrade, Serbia during 2015.
Operation Flow: The concept is designed around six elements, depending on the selected number of axes in the grid. Extensions are straight or curved and use one or two axes, while Nodes use three or four. Colored caps bring character and create groups of objects, while Links are used to connect two neighboring parts with female protrusions. Combining the parts in different ways and utilizing available ambiguous graphic symbols - e.g. eye-mouth, eye-nose,... - creates and endless array of interesting characters.
Team Members: Designer: Vladimir Zagorac
Mentor: Tijana Sekulic
Mentor: Dusan Nesic