Q-BA-MAZE

Toy Fair 2009 Q-BA-MAZE Booth: Sunrise!

The Sun is rising!

The Q-BA-MAZE Booth for the New York International Toy Fair of 2009 was a celebration of the plans page and all of the sculptural potential of the Q-BA-MAZE cubes: either following downloadable construction plans or using Q-BA-DRAW to make and upload plans of your own.

We talked with educators and toy store owners from all over the US and the world and are invigorated by the enthusiastic response we received.

Look for Q-BA-MAZE to follow up its recent Japanese distribution deal with further distribution in Europe and elsewhere in 2009!

Here By Design Exhibit: Opening Snapshots

I'm on the right side of the display case describing the design process. The original inspiration came from the green wooden marble run on the right made by my grandfather, probably in the 1940s. My handmade plaster prototypes are at the far end of the case on the left. Two rows of rapid prototypes show the evolving generations of the design of the single-exit and double-exit cubes.

Another view of the display case.

The photo above shows how the cubes inter-lock to form a sturdy marble run.

Exhibit curator James Boyd-Brent is on the left. A wall system designed by Marc Swackhammer fills the background. I am demonstrating how a side joint on one cube can connect on all four sides of another cube.

YOU'RE INVITED: "Here by Design" Opening Party

Here by Design III: Process and Prototype

Opening Party
Friday, October 19
7-9 p.m. FREE
@ Goldstein Museum gallery
Minneapolis, MN

I'm honored to be part of this new exhibit, curated by James Boyd-Brent, Associate Professor of Graphic Design. The entire design process behind Q-BA-MAZE is on display -- inspiration, sketches, CAD drawings, rapid prototypes.  Visitors even get a chance to play with a multi-pack structure!  As part of the related symposium, I'll be sitting on a panel -- and a fellow panelist will be Vince James, one of my architecture instructors from the University of Minnesota.

"HbDIII will examine the ingenuity of Minnesota designers using digital fabrication for rapid prototyping innovative and sustainable design solutions. A related symposium will explore these issues in greater depth through panel discussions with the designers, tours to digital fabrication facilities, and a nationally-known keynote challenge speaker." Exhibit runs October 20, 2007 - January 20 2008

Watch for photos in the next few days...