GUAN.NECT

What it does

GUAN.NECT is a creative toy combining cardboard pieces to form various shapes. It can be disassembled and recycled into different materials, replacing short-lived plastic toys.

Your inspiration

Currently, most children's playground equipment comes in a single form, which needs to be discarded when children outgrow it, resulting in unnecessary waste. Some parents try to create homemade play equipment using waste materials but often encounter issues such as insufficient structural support. It is worth considering the possibility of a toy that combines waste materials with plastic components, allowing them to interconnect and form various objects, enabling different play experiences. Furthermore, this toy should be designed to be easily disassembled and stored to address the problem of limited space in modern small households.

How it works

A modular design approach is employed to enhance the diversity of toy combinations, where intermediate connectors can be integrated with various waste materials. These components can have different shapes and functionalities, allowing children to combine and create based on their imagination and needs. The connection between ready-made objects and these components utilizes open-source 3D snap-fit connectors, enabling the online sharing of connector designs for different objects, accommodating various material types and sizes. As for materials, sustainable plastic materials are considered, and the connection method relies on snap-fit mechanisms, allowing for ultimate disassembly into the original materials for recycling, thus reducing the environmental impact. After inserting the card into the paper tube for fixation, use the gasket to achieve a 2D connection, and then use screws to fix or connect special connectors to form a 3D structure.

Design process

I tried using milk powder cans to design the play equipment, hoping to leverage their sturdy nature for support. However, I was intrigued by the freedom offered by paper tubes in terms of length and size, prompting me to switch to using them as the material for the first demonstration module. During the process, I encountered challenges with directly interlocking paper tubes. To address this, I integrated eco-friendly plastic components and designed 3D printable elements that could connect various paper tubes, allowing children and parents to create the play equipment. Once parents become familiar with the process, they can utilize the same logic to build open-source 3D printable elements that connect and hold household waste materials together. This shift in the toy-making approach allows children to create the toy materials themselves, empowering them to assemble their play equipment as they wish. By studying child behavior and development, I aimed to design components that combine play equipment while creating the potential for future children to rearrange and disassemble them as they grow older. This way, the control over toys returns to the children, breaking free from the constraints imposed by commercially available toys.

How it is different

To achieve open-ended possibilities for assembly, GUAN.NECT utilizes open-source 3D card connectors, enabling people to share different connector designs online to accommodate materials of various textures and sizes. All components are made from sustainable plastic materials and are joined together using a card connection method, facilitating easy disassembly and recycling after the toy's useful life, thus reducing its impact on the environment. As a demonstration, GUAN.NECT combines four types of designs, including a slide, a pedal board, a remote-controlled board, and a Ferris wheel. When children are 2-4 years old, parents can select the type of play equipment to assemble based on their age, allowing them to play with the toys. When children are 5-8 years old, they can be guided to assemble and create their play equipment.

Future plans

In the future, we plan to establish a website where users can upload various open-source designs, create a community, and share knowledge through tutorials. This platform enables to connect of different waste materials, allowing more components, enhancing playability, and assisting children in building a wide variety of toys.

Awards

Core77 Design Awards 2023 Award Category: Toys & Play Award Type: Student Notable Project Title: GUAN.NACT-a cardboard tube construction toy