Tactile Enrichment Brinquedos Antiestresse by Ruoyou Zhou

Tactile Enrichment Brinquedos Antiestresse by Ruoyou Zhou is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award de Ferro in Design de Brinquedos, Jogos e Produtos de Hobby Competition Category.

FerroBrinquedo· 2026

Tactile Enrichment Brinquedos Antiestresse

by Ruoyou Zhou

Client: Ruoyou Zhou

A' Design Award de Ferro Winner in Brinquedo Category

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Verified Award Winner

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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

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The Design

About Tactile Enrichment Brinquedos Antiestresse

Tactile Enrichment é uma série de brinquedos antiestresse (fidget toys) que se concentram no sentido do tato. A série é composta por cinco cubos, cada um medindo 50 por 50 por 50 milímetros. Cada cubo é feito de um único material: argila, couro, metal, madeira ou tecido. O mesmo padrão tridimensional é aplicado a todos os cinco cubos, de modo que a diferença entre os materiais possa ser sentida com as mãos. Cada material apresenta peso, temperatura e cheiro distintos. Os cubos podem ser segurados e manipulados enquanto os olhos estão ocupados e as mãos, livres. A intenção é reduzir a dependência da visão e conferir ao tato um papel maior na experiência cotidiana.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Ferro

Tactile Enrichment Brinquedos Antiestresse conquistou o A' Design Award de Ferro, um reconhecimento prestigiado atribuído a bons designs que cumprem os requisitos profissionais e industriais esperados de criações bem concebidas. Os vencedores do Ferro demonstram grande habilidade, elevada especialização, compreensão especializada e capacidade criativa dos seus criadores. Espera-se que Tactile Enrichment Brinquedos Antiestresse seja uma criação muito considerada, admirada e estimada, prática e inovadora. Este design vencedor do A' Design Award de Ferro integra as melhores práticas do setor e tem características técnicas competentes associadas a conhecimento especializado e talento. Pela sua minúcia, Tactile Enrichment Brinquedos Antiestresse merece respeito e destina-se a proporcionar melhorias na qualidade de vida que ajudam a tornar o mundo num lugar melhor.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: We understand the world through our five senses, receiving emotions and information every day. This project is a series of fidget toys that rethink our sensory habits, which often rely too much on vision. It shifts the focus to touch. The same pattern is made from different materials, allowing users to feel variations in texture and resistance with their hands. By reducing visual input, the work highlights how touch and other senses can become the main source of experience and emotion.
Dimensions & Packaging: 50 × 50 × 50 mm .five pieces.
Tags: Fidget toy, Without Visual Dependence, Touch, Smell, Series, Mixed materials, Toy, Playful
Production Technology: Five materials were used, clay, leather, metal, wood, and fabric. Three dimensional textures were shaped into each material. Then the materials were cut into small pieces and attached to the cube. This required constant checking to ensure every piece fit perfectly after assembly. Each cube has six sides, and I made five cubes in total, like completing a 120 piece collage puzzle in different materials.
Design Challenge: The biggest challenge was repetitive work and making sure every piece fit perfectly. To avoid gaps after assembly, each material piece had to be sanded by hand. For the metal cube, thin and hard stainless steel was used. After many trials, I chose laser cutting to shape the pieces, then filled the gaps with putty and finished with spray paint. The most enjoyable process was sewing the leather cube, marking, punching holes, stitching, and tying the thread. I truly enjoyed each step.
Research: This project explores tactile experience without relying on sight. About 83 percent of the information we receive comes from vision. When reliance on vision is reduced, the other senses become stronger and more memorable. At the exhibition, visitors could freely touch and play with the objects and write down their thoughts on each material. The interactive display received positive feedback, as interaction is part of the research and the work serves as a bridge between me and the audience.
Inspiration: In daily life, we often play with small objects to ease anxiety or boredom, clicking a pen or turning keys in our hands. Fidget toys were created from this behavior. Based on this and my research on the five senses, I designed this series using different materials to explore new possibilities. Enrichment in animal care means providing toys or spaces to reduce stress and improve well being. As humans living in concrete cities, we also face stress. This design asks whether we also need enrichment.
Project Duration: In April 2023, I began researching the five senses, touch, sight, hearing, taste, and smell. In July 2024, I focused on the relationship between objects, people, and interaction. By July 2025, I was testing materials and making prototypes, selecting five for further development. Fabrication began in November 2025. The work was completed in February 2026 and presented at the 2026 graduation exhibition of Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts.
Operation Flow: These objects can be held and played with while watching TV, talking, or even during meetings under the table, any moment when the eyes are busy but the hands are free. The key idea is to enrich touch without relying on vision. Each material has a different weight, temperature, and even smell. Even with the same pattern, different materials create completely different tactile experiences.