BUDDI

작품의 기능

BUDDI is a multifunctional toy to match every occasion. By putting together 3 out of 24 and more elements, the kid decides which BUDDI it wants to play with. The goal is to encourage the creativity of children in an era of technological overstimulation.

영감의 원천

While generating concepts for the useful integration of technological and smart elements into toys, we came to the conclusion, that this should not be the real goal these days. By researching the habits of children, we noticed a permanent presence of technical devices in their live. So we thought about our childhood and the most exciting games, which were building tree houses, playing catch with friends or counting cars with our parents while driving into the holidays. Creating own ideas for games was a big part of that fun. Having that in mind, we focused on the freedom of play and bringing back the creativity of our youngest.

작동원리

3 elements of a selection of 24 can be put together, so there are already over 1000 possible combinations. Each element has a different mechanism to play with. The use of them is not predefined, so the kid may spin the wheel of fortune-element for the next team selection or to fidget with the BUDDI to make a long car trip more exciting. The yoyo-element can be played as a yoyo, or to abseiling the BUDDI in a dark well to illuminate it with the lamp. It is up to the child‘s creativity. With plug-on sleeves, every BUDDI can be customized. Different themes like "Space Police" or "Pulk", a mysterious tribe, are matching all tastes and integrating a swap- and collectible nature. By a combination of form and magnetic lock, the assembly is easy and safe. An additional loop-element for easy carry can be put between the elements. The balanced mixture of simple principles and exciting elements, opposes a premature focus on digital game world.

개발 과정

In the beginning of the project we started to play around with different mechanisms. They only had to be fascinating or bring fun. So we disassembled egg-timers, frog-clickers and brought together little toys we had in the pocket as kids like a yoyo or a magnifying glass. So we glued them together trying to create exciting combinations. First prototypes were crazy looking puppets out of these mechanisms, so we developed the pill shape. After researching the perfect, ergonomic size for kids between 5-12 years, and prototyping sizes out of foam, we selected the different mechanisms we want to use, and started to design them in CAD. The biggest challenge was the very limited space we could use. Also the integration of the sleeves in the shape of the BUDDI required many adjustments, to make sure the sleeves are universal and don‘t obstruct the mechanisms. After a lot of 3d-printing and different approaches for the connection of the elements, we came step by step closer to the final prototypes. Afterwards we edited the CAD models again to prepare them for injecting moulding in the future. With the prototypes, which we gave a soft touch surface for a velvet feeling, we were heading to the children of friends, to let them test and play with the BUDDI.

독창성

While it seems that other toy manufacturers fully concentrate on digital devices, we bring back creative and adventurous play. We loved the times, when we just went out and played whatever came to mind. The environment was our playground, and that is what we want to achieve with BUDDI. No more starring on screens, much more exploring! With the sleeves, an emotional bond is generated, and by the possible combinations the playing time is extended. The kid can decide which combination out of the categories "sound", "little helper", "position" and "adventure" brings the most fun for their purpose and find new ways to use the BUDDI. The BUDDI is like a swiss-army toy for little adventurers, with functions for every occasion. Universality, fascination, a lot of room for creativity and an opportunity to create your own world - that is the essence of BUDDI.

향후 계획

At the moment, we are extending the variety of elements and are building new prototypes of all elements to further improve the mechanisms. We want to evolve BUDDI from our thesis project to a start-up, so we now focus on the economical aspects and are building more material to present the BUDDI and even more different elements. A homepage will arrive soon, and with the redesigned prototypes we will do further tests. We hope BUDDI will come to live one day and bring fun to many children.

수상 내역

Nomination for: Hochschulpreis Kreissparkasse Ostalb