triX 模組化玩具 by Vladimir Zagorac is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2017 A' Design Award 銀獎 in 玩具、遊戲及消閒產品設計 Competition Category.

銀玩具· 2017

triX 模組化玩具

by Vladimir Zagorac

Client: triX Modular Toys

A' Design Award 銀獎 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 模組化玩具

triX係一款適合四歲或以上兒童玩嘅模組化拼砌玩具。呢款玩具以六邊形立體網格為基礎設計，令造型可以向任何方向延伸擴展。玩具總共設有六種組件：直向同彎曲延伸件、三軸同四軸接合點、連接件同埋封蓋。零件數量精簡，反而更能激發創造力，同時有助培養空間思維同精細動作能力。玩具上印有意義含糊嘅圖案符號，方便小朋友表達情感同塑造角色形象，因為每個符號會隨住旋轉角度同擺放位置而產生唔同意思。此外，多人一齊玩仲可以培養小朋友嘅社交能力。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 銀獎

triX 模組化玩具是 A' Design Award 銀獎得主，這是授予頂級、華美而令人印象深刻的設計的極為崇高的認可。銀獎得主是極其卓越、極具創造力的作品，展現出其設計師傑出的專業技能、才華與敏銳。預計triX 模組化玩具將成為一件出色的典範之作，兼具非凡的專業性與深刻的創新性。這件贏得 A' Design Award 銀獎的設計是一項備受矚目、令人欽佩的發明，造福並拓展藝術、科學、設計和技術的界限。triX 模組化玩具是一件令人羨慕的創作，它喚起渴望，帶來積極的情感，並激發驚嘆與讚嘆。

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