Tactile Enrichment Àwọn Ohun Ìṣeré Ìdánilára Ọwọ́ by Ruoyou Zhou

Tactile Enrichment Àwọn Ohun Ìṣeré Ìdánilára Ọwọ́ by Ruoyou Zhou is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Irin A' Design Award in Àpẹẹrẹ Ohun-ìṣeré, Eré àti Ohun Àfẹ́ṣeré Competition Category.

IrinOhun-ìṣeré· 2026

Tactile Enrichment Àwọn Ohun Ìṣeré Ìdánilára Ọwọ́

by Ruoyou Zhou

Client: Ruoyou Zhou

Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Irin A' Design Award Winner in Ohun-ìṣeré Category

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The Design

About Tactile Enrichment Àwọn Ohun Ìṣeré Ìdánilára Ọwọ́

Tactile Enrichment jẹ́ ọ̀wọ́ àwọn ohun ìṣeré ìdánilára ọwọ́ tí ó dá lórí ìmọ̀lára ìfọwọ́kàn. Ọ̀wọ́ náà ní kúùbù márùn-ún, ọ̀kọ̀ọ̀kan wọn tí ó wọ̀n mílímítà 50 ní gígùn, 50 ní ìbú àti 50 ní gíga. Ohun èlò kan ṣoṣo ni a fi ṣe kúùbù kọ̀ọ̀kan: amọ̀, awọ, irin, igi tàbí aṣọ. Àpẹẹrẹ oníwọ̀n-mẹ́ta kan náà ni a lò sára gbogbo kúùbù márùn-ún, kí ìyàtọ̀ láàárín àwọn ohun èlò lè hàn nípa fífọwọ́ kàn án. Ohun èlò kọ̀ọ̀kan ní ìwúwo, ìgbóná-tútù àti òórùn tí ó yàtọ̀. A lè gbé àwọn kúùbù náà mú kí a sì fi wọ́n ṣeré nígbà tí ojú ń ṣiṣẹ́ tí ọwọ́ sì wà lófo. Èrèdí rẹ̀ ni láti dín ìgbáralé lórí ìríran kù kí ìfọwọ́kàn sì ní ipa tí ó tóbi jù nínú ìrírí ojoojúmọ́.

The Recognition

About the Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Irin A' Design Award

Tactile Enrichment Àwọn Ohun Ìṣeré Ìdánilára Ọwọ́ jẹ́ olùborí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Irin A' Design Award, ìdánimọ̀ olókìkí tí a fún àwọn àwòṣe tó dára tí wọ́n pàdé àwọn ohun tí iṣẹ́ àti ilé-iṣẹ́ nílò tí a retí láti ọ̀dọ̀ àwọn ẹ̀dá tí a ṣàwòṣe dáradára. Àwọn olùborí Irin ń fi ìjáfáfá ńlá, ìmọ̀ pàtó gíga, òye ògbóǹtarìgì àti agbára ìṣẹ̀dá àwọn olùṣẹ̀dá wọn hàn. A retí pé Tactile Enrichment Àwọn Ohun Ìṣeré Ìdánilára Ọwọ́ yóò jẹ́ ẹ̀dá tí a kà sí gidigidi, tí a gbóríyìn fún tí a sì nífẹ̀ẹ́, tó wúlò tó sì ní ìmúṣẹ̀dá tuntun. Àwòṣe tó borí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Irin A' Design Award yìí ń kó àwọn ọ̀nà tó dára jùlọ ilé-iṣẹ́ jọ, ó sì ní àwọn ànímọ́ ìmọ̀-ẹ̀rọ tó péye tí a so mọ́ ìmọ̀ ṣíṣe àti ẹ̀bùn. A bọ̀wọ̀ fún Tactile Enrichment Àwọn Ohun Ìṣeré Ìdánilára Ọwọ́ nítorí ìfọ̀kànbalẹ̀ rẹ̀, a sì ṣàwòṣe rẹ̀ láti pèsè ìmúdára ìgbésí ayé tó ń ran ayé lọ́wọ́ láti di ibi tó dára jù.

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.