triX 模块化玩具 by Vladimir Zagorac is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2017 A' Design Award 银奖 in 玩具、游戏与业余爱好产品设计 Competition Category.

银玩具· 2017

triX 模块化玩具

by Vladimir Zagorac

Client: triX Modular Toys

A' Design Award 银奖 Winner in 玩具 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 模块化玩具

triX是一款面向四岁及以上儿童的模块化可拼接玩具。该玩具以六边形立体网格为基础构建，因此造型可以向任意方向延展。玩具共使用六种元件：直线延长件与弯曲延长件、三轴节点与四轴节点、连接件以及端盖。较少的零件种类既能激发创造力，又能培养空间思维能力与动作技能。元件上印制的多义符号帮助儿童表达情绪、塑造角色形象，因为每个符号随着旋转与摆放位置的变化会呈现不同的含义。多人共同游戏还有助于培养社交能力。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 银奖

triX 模块化玩具是 A' Design Award 银奖得主，这是授予顶级、华美而令人印象深刻的设计的极为崇高的认可。银奖得主是极其卓越、极具创造力的作品，展现出其设计师杰出的专业技能、才华与敏锐。预计triX 模块化玩具将成为一件出色的典范之作，兼具非凡的专业性与深刻的创新性。这件赢得 A' Design Award 银奖的设计是一项备受瞩目、令人钦佩的发明，造福并拓展艺术、科学、设计和技术的边界。triX 模块化玩具是一件令人羡慕的创作，它唤起渴望，带来积极的情感，并激发惊叹与赞叹。

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