Tag Archives: Babies/Childcare/Toys

A solar-powered weighing scale concept to help save the lives of babies in remote communities

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It’s easy to take for granted simple things like keeping track of our weight. For babies in hard-to-reach areas, however, that can be a matter of life or death, and this portable solar scale tries to help tip the scales in the baby’s favor.

The first few weeks of an infant’s life are critical not only to their growth but also to their survival. Many parents might take for granted the many tools and resources available to them in watching over babies during this crucial period, conveniences that are not even accessible to remote and socio-economically challenged communities. Even something as basic as a weighing scale for infants is rare and difficult to come by, something that this product concept is trying to solve in the most efficient way possible.

Designer: Craig McGarrell

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 2.4 million children around the world died within the first month of their lives. While there are many factors that contributed to this number, a very big factor in remote regions is the ability to monitor the baby’s weight during that month. Weighing scales used in these areas are often old-fashioned analog scales that can be inaccurate and too heavy to move from one community to another easily. This makes it difficult or nearly impossible for healthcare workers to keep a close watch on babies’ weights, leading to unfortunate neonatal deaths.

The ROOTS Solar Scale concept is an attempt to modernize this critical medical equipment without making them too complicated to use or too expensive to maintain. For one, it is completely digital, which removes the risk of getting inaccurate readings over time. It is also solar-powered so that electricity won’t be an issue.

The design is also meant to be lightweight and easy to carry around, even on foot, taking the form of a backpack when not in use. The weighing bowl inside creates a safe structure for the infant to lie in, while the stiff hinge prevents the lid from accidentally closing with the child still inside.

The Solar Scale is meant to be a cost-effective solution that is easy to make and repair, thanks to having very few parts. Despite relying mostly on solar power, the design isn’t completely sustainable, as it relies heavily on plastic, particularly to give the weighing bowl a smooth surface that will be gentle on the baby’s skin while also easy to clean.

The post A solar-powered weighing scale concept to help save the lives of babies in remote communities first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 10 LEGO trends of 2022

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Remember when we spent our summer vacations and free time after school fiddling around with LEGO blocks, and sometimes painfully stepping on them with our feet? Fun times, right? But, LEGO is no more considered child’s play! Master builders, artists, and LEGO enthusiasts all over the world are creating impressive LEGO builds that’ll blow your minds away. They are a result of their hours of dedication, attention to detail, hard work, and creativity. They can be considered works of art, and I love scrolling through these creations, admiring them, and feeling an intense surge of satisfaction at their perfection. And, we’ve curated the best of the lot for you to drool and go gaga over!

1. The LEGO Kumbi Saleh 3020 CE

Using over 100,000 LEGO pieces, designer Ekow Nimako imagines the Kumbi Saleh 3020 CE a Ghanaian metropolis 1000 years in the future. This artwork is the centerpiece for his exhibition titled Building Black Civilizations and showcases details like nothing you have ever seen before, almost reminiscent of the Game of Thrones title sequence!

2. Planterior

Planterior keeps the shape and size of a traditional bulletin board and integrates a gardening system into its structure to bring greenery to any workspace. Describing Planterior’s inspiration in their own words, Dasol notes, “Due to the influence of fine dust and COVID-19, people, who do not have the opportunity to access plants outdoors, are increasingly putting plants into their homes…Home gardening and plant territories are gaining vitality [as a result].”

3. The LEGO DeLorean

Designed and built by LEGO creator Mr. Platinum using 2800 LEGO Technic pieces, this absolutely delightful mini replica of the DMC DeLorean from Back To The Future comes complete with a detailed exterior as well as interior, functioning doors, glowing lights, and a Bluetooth controller that lets you remotely drive the little car around! The LEGO DeLorean is a stunning MOC (My Own Creation) that boasts of functioning headlights and taillights, glowing pipes around the car’s periphery as well as on the inside, motorized doors that open on command to reveal the detailed interiors, and for good measure, repositionable tires that become horizontal to resemble the car flying through space and time.

4. The LEGO Sun Earth Moon Orrery

The LEGO Sun Earth Moon Orrery is a stunningly detailed little kinetic machine that doesn’t just replicate the movement of the earth and moon around the sun, it also factors in the earth’s axial tilt, tracks moon phases, demonstrate solar and lunar eclipses, and aims at being as astronomically accurate as possible. Made from a staggering 2303 pieces, the Sun Earth Moon Orrery uses 70 Technic gears to allow the cosmic bodies to move realistically and can either be manually controlled using a hand crank or electrically via an RC motor.

5. LEGO Animal Sculptures

Mitsuru Nikaido, a Kurashiki-based artist, makes sculptures of different animal species from LEGO building blocks. When constructing his sculptures, the Japanese LEGO enthusiast tends towards a cyberpunk aesthetic and gray-scale color palette to highlight his signature style. His varied collection includes LEGO sculptures of walruses, Huntsman spiders, crayfish, cicadas, triceratops, beetles, shoebills, and even microscopic water bears.

6. The LEGO Sony PlayStation 5 replica

The LEGO Sony PlayStation 5 replica is the brainchild of LEGO Master Builder Rolling Bricks, who submitted their project to the LEGO Ideas forum – a crowd-sourced initiative by LEGO to help creators make new designs with LEGO’s vast catalog of bricks. If accepted and appreciated by the LEGO Ideas community, the project gets the green signal from LEGO executives and turns from a fan-made design to a LEGO kit that people can actually buy off shelves and online stores. With 489 votes from the LEGO community, the PS5 replica still requires roughly 9,500 votes to be considered by the LEGO officials, although from the looks of it, it’s pretty easy to build one on your own, with a few simple brick shapes!

7. The LEGO M 1000 RR

The sizeable LEGO interpretation of the M 1000 RR measures a little under 18 inches long and 10 inches tall. The set is made up of 1,920 individual LEGO pieces which in itself will be a satisfying exercise to put together. This LEGO Technic set – the largest ever bike set – will be nirvana for model building enthusiasts and biking affectionate owing to the extent of realism that’s mirrored. There are functional intricate components, including the 4 piston engine, three-speed gearbox, steering wheel, upside-down fork with the rear swingarm suspension, and the dashboard with three display options. That’s further honed by the red, white and blue color scheme and iconic BMW branding, gold-colored drive chain, paddock stand, and a pit board for the genuine racing flair.

8. LEGO Homeware Collection

This entire collection is crafted from FSC-certified red oak, and each product is available in two variants – a soaped oak and a dark stained oak finish. Every product is almost a recreation of the original LEGO brick design. They’re like super-sized LEGO with light and dark alter egos! They are designed to scale and follow the original brick dimensions, hence they can even be stacked! The products mimick quite a few of the iconic LEGO elements – from the single stud to other easily recognizable pieces. And of course, all the items have been embellished with the iconic LEGO lettering! The full collection consists of a Wall Hanger Set (set of three), a picture frame, a book rack, two Desk Drawer options – 2×2 and 2×4.

9. The LEGO Ideas Antique Cash Register

Built to absolute stunning detail, the LEGO Ideas Antique Cash Register models itself directly on the National Cash Register Model 452 – a popular cashier’s machine from the 19th Century, designed and developed in Ohio at the start of the era of retail businesses. The LEGO variant, however, is the brainchild of a Master Builder who goes by the name of dimexart, and uses a whopping 2055 pieces to come together.

10. The LEGO Imperial Light Cruiser

The latest LEGO sets include the Moff Gideon’s Imperial Light Cruiser (which I’m surely going to add to the collection), Imperial Armored Marauder, and the bounty hunter Boba Fett’s Starship. The highlight of them all is the Imperial Light Cruiser (75315) which comes with a bridge (doubles as a handle for flying action), large spring-loaded shooters, and dual mini TIE Fighters. How could the LEGO set not have the main leads – that’s why it also comes with The Mandalorian and Baby Yoda minifigures along with the infamous villain Moff Gideon, Fennec Shand, Cara Dune, and the Dark Tropper too.

The post Top 10 LEGO trends of 2022 first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 10 LEGO trends of 2022

Posted on by

Remember when we spent our summer vacations and free time after school fiddling around with LEGO blocks, and sometimes painfully stepping on them with our feet? Fun times, right? But, LEGO is no more considered child’s play! Master builders, artists, and LEGO enthusiasts all over the world are creating impressive LEGO builds that’ll blow your minds away. They are a result of their hours of dedication, attention to detail, hard work, and creativity. They can be considered works of art, and I love scrolling through these creations, admiring them, and feeling an intense surge of satisfaction at their perfection. And, we’ve curated the best of the lot for you to drool and go gaga over!

1. The LEGO Kumbi Saleh 3020 CE

Using over 100,000 LEGO pieces, designer Ekow Nimako imagines the Kumbi Saleh 3020 CE a Ghanaian metropolis 1000 years in the future. This artwork is the centerpiece for his exhibition titled Building Black Civilizations and showcases details like nothing you have ever seen before, almost reminiscent of the Game of Thrones title sequence!

2. Planterior

Planterior keeps the shape and size of a traditional bulletin board and integrates a gardening system into its structure to bring greenery to any workspace. Describing Planterior’s inspiration in their own words, Dasol notes, “Due to the influence of fine dust and COVID-19, people, who do not have the opportunity to access plants outdoors, are increasingly putting plants into their homes…Home gardening and plant territories are gaining vitality [as a result].”

3. The LEGO DeLorean

Designed and built by LEGO creator Mr. Platinum using 2800 LEGO Technic pieces, this absolutely delightful mini replica of the DMC DeLorean from Back To The Future comes complete with a detailed exterior as well as interior, functioning doors, glowing lights, and a Bluetooth controller that lets you remotely drive the little car around! The LEGO DeLorean is a stunning MOC (My Own Creation) that boasts of functioning headlights and taillights, glowing pipes around the car’s periphery as well as on the inside, motorized doors that open on command to reveal the detailed interiors, and for good measure, repositionable tires that become horizontal to resemble the car flying through space and time.

4. The LEGO Sun Earth Moon Orrery

The LEGO Sun Earth Moon Orrery is a stunningly detailed little kinetic machine that doesn’t just replicate the movement of the earth and moon around the sun, it also factors in the earth’s axial tilt, tracks moon phases, demonstrate solar and lunar eclipses, and aims at being as astronomically accurate as possible. Made from a staggering 2303 pieces, the Sun Earth Moon Orrery uses 70 Technic gears to allow the cosmic bodies to move realistically and can either be manually controlled using a hand crank or electrically via an RC motor.

5. LEGO Animal Sculptures

Mitsuru Nikaido, a Kurashiki-based artist, makes sculptures of different animal species from LEGO building blocks. When constructing his sculptures, the Japanese LEGO enthusiast tends towards a cyberpunk aesthetic and gray-scale color palette to highlight his signature style. His varied collection includes LEGO sculptures of walruses, Huntsman spiders, crayfish, cicadas, triceratops, beetles, shoebills, and even microscopic water bears.

6. The LEGO Sony PlayStation 5 replica

The LEGO Sony PlayStation 5 replica is the brainchild of LEGO Master Builder Rolling Bricks, who submitted their project to the LEGO Ideas forum – a crowd-sourced initiative by LEGO to help creators make new designs with LEGO’s vast catalog of bricks. If accepted and appreciated by the LEGO Ideas community, the project gets the green signal from LEGO executives and turns from a fan-made design to a LEGO kit that people can actually buy off shelves and online stores. With 489 votes from the LEGO community, the PS5 replica still requires roughly 9,500 votes to be considered by the LEGO officials, although from the looks of it, it’s pretty easy to build one on your own, with a few simple brick shapes!

7. The LEGO M 1000 RR

The sizeable LEGO interpretation of the M 1000 RR measures a little under 18 inches long and 10 inches tall. The set is made up of 1,920 individual LEGO pieces which in itself will be a satisfying exercise to put together. This LEGO Technic set – the largest ever bike set – will be nirvana for model building enthusiasts and biking affectionate owing to the extent of realism that’s mirrored. There are functional intricate components, including the 4 piston engine, three-speed gearbox, steering wheel, upside-down fork with the rear swingarm suspension, and the dashboard with three display options. That’s further honed by the red, white and blue color scheme and iconic BMW branding, gold-colored drive chain, paddock stand, and a pit board for the genuine racing flair.

8. LEGO Homeware Collection

This entire collection is crafted from FSC-certified red oak, and each product is available in two variants – a soaped oak and a dark stained oak finish. Every product is almost a recreation of the original LEGO brick design. They’re like super-sized LEGO with light and dark alter egos! They are designed to scale and follow the original brick dimensions, hence they can even be stacked! The products mimick quite a few of the iconic LEGO elements – from the single stud to other easily recognizable pieces. And of course, all the items have been embellished with the iconic LEGO lettering! The full collection consists of a Wall Hanger Set (set of three), a picture frame, a book rack, two Desk Drawer options – 2×2 and 2×4.

9. The LEGO Ideas Antique Cash Register

Built to absolute stunning detail, the LEGO Ideas Antique Cash Register models itself directly on the National Cash Register Model 452 – a popular cashier’s machine from the 19th Century, designed and developed in Ohio at the start of the era of retail businesses. The LEGO variant, however, is the brainchild of a Master Builder who goes by the name of dimexart, and uses a whopping 2055 pieces to come together.

10. The LEGO Imperial Light Cruiser

The latest LEGO sets include the Moff Gideon’s Imperial Light Cruiser (which I’m surely going to add to the collection), Imperial Armored Marauder, and the bounty hunter Boba Fett’s Starship. The highlight of them all is the Imperial Light Cruiser (75315) which comes with a bridge (doubles as a handle for flying action), large spring-loaded shooters, and dual mini TIE Fighters. How could the LEGO set not have the main leads – that’s why it also comes with The Mandalorian and Baby Yoda minifigures along with the infamous villain Moff Gideon, Fennec Shand, Cara Dune, and the Dark Tropper too.

The post Top 10 LEGO trends of 2022 first appeared on Yanko Design.

This robotic cat will nibble on your finger in a quirky attempt to reduce your stress

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More than just looking cute and heartwarming, these animal plushies will try to calm you down in the oddest way they can.

Given the many sources of stress and worry these days, some people might be dreaming of the simpler days of their childhood. In addition to having very few concerns, infants and toddlers also have behaviors and coping mechanisms that they outgrow in a few years. Some of those gestures, however, work both ways and give comfort even to the adults that experience them. That’s what a Japanese robotics company is trying to offer, thankfully without involving any children or anything resembling them.

Designer: Yuki Engineering

“Play-biting,” as it is called, is a gesture that’s almost universal not just among human babies but also some animals. It has the psychological effect of providing comfort, not just for the one nibbling but also the owner of the finger. Of course, that behavior is unacceptable for adults and is dangerous for grown pets, so Yukai Engineering is using robots to act as proxies for babies.

Called “Amagami Ham Ham,” Japanese words that refer to “soft biting,” the robots are dressed up as cute cats and dogs and almost look like regular stuffed toys. The difference, however, is that the toys activate the moment you put your finger inside their mouth. They suddenly spring to life, or at least their mouths, and start nibbling on your finger to help you release some stress.

It isn’t just a simple, mechanical kind of biting either. Amagami Ham randomly picks one of two dozen variations of “ham” or “biting,” making it almost like an adventure each time you put your finger inside. Those might be too subtle to differentiate one from the other, but the company says they’re meant to replicate the different ways babies and pets nibble fingers or other objects.

There is no word yet on when Amagami Ham Ham will land in the market, but you can almost bet that it will happen eventually. After all, Yukai Engineering did launch the Qoobo robotic pillow with a tail a few years ago, and that was no joke, no matter how ridiculous or eerie it initially looked. Now the company is aiming to use cuddly robots to free humanity from the dilemma of whether they want their finger nibbled or not in order to relax.

The post This robotic cat will nibble on your finger in a quirky attempt to reduce your stress first appeared on Yanko Design.

Silicone finger grips in this snack box ensures your kids can eat without a mess!

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Monchi is a compressible snack box with a silicone lid that comes with integrated finger grips for kids to eat with their hands without making a mess.

There are only two types of people in the world: the ones who lick their fingers after a meal, and the ones who look for the nearest sink. While I fall into the latter category, the urge to eat with my hands is real. Finger foods like cookies and fries have always been a crowd favorite, but they’re messy too.

Monchi, a hygienic silicone-based snack box, developed by A Nus Design Studio features built-in finger grips so you can eat with your hands without the mess.

Tailored for children aged three and up, Monchi is as parent-friendly as it is kid-friendly. Featuring a flexible, silicone lid, the integrated finger grips stretch to fit hands and fingers of all sizes.

Just beneath the silicone lid, Monchi has a leak-proof and airtight food container that holds snack-sized items for kids to enjoy anywhere. From picnics to school lunches, Monchi packs some fun into eating so kids will never skip their veggies.

Once snack time is over, Monchi’s silicone build allows for easy cleanup. Compressible by design, the food container can shrink in size to fit into small storage spaces, even your front pocket.

The finger-grip lid allows users to slip their fingers into each slot, allowing free range of motion to pick up food items inside the container. Constructed from food-grade silicone and polypropylene plastic, Monchi is BPA-free and made from materials that are safe for kids of all ages to be around.

Designer: A Nus Design Studio

Even below the lid, Monchi’s design is fun for kids to play with.

Following an involved ideation process, Monchi reached its final form. 

The post Silicone finger grips in this snack box ensures your kids can eat without a mess! first appeared on Yanko Design.

PowerUp 4.0 turns your regular paper airplane into an affordable remote-controlled drone!

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Instead of relying on four propellers and a highly intuitive AI capable of constant stabilization, the PowerUp 4.0 simply plugs onto your paper airplane and pushes its limits. The tiny contraption weighs hardly anything and gives your plane two rear propellers that let it reach speeds of 20 mph and heights of 230 feet. Once you launch your plane with your hands, the PowerUp 4.0 lets you maneuver it via your smartphone, taking the simple joy of flying planes and giving it an adrenaline boost!

For its size, the PowerUp 4.0 packs quite a punch. It’s lightweight, relatively inexpensive, and sports a 10-minute flight time. As far as its technical chops go, version 4.0 comes with gyroscopic stabilization, take-off and landing capabilities, the ability to do air stunts like loops and barrel rolls, and be entirely controlled via your smartphone. For well under 100 bucks, the PowerUp 4.0 beats most consumer-grade drones in affordability, while still being an incredibly fun toy. Sure, the PowerUp doesn’t sport a camera as most drones do, but then again, there’s an entirely different joy to launching a paper plane and watching it fly like an absolute boss… isn’t there?

Click Here to Buy Now

The way you use the PowerUp 4.0 is about as simple as launching your own paper plane. While your handmade analog paper plane requires a fair bit of elbow grease to give it more thrust, the PowerUp doesn’t require all that effort. Just a careful push into the wind is enough to get the plane into the air, following which your smartphone then takes over at controlling the gadget. The PowerUp’s on-board system can make sure the plane remains stable in the air (preventing nosedives), but ultimately wind plays a major factor too, given that the module weighs just above 15 grams (0.5 ounces).

The PowerUp 4.0 comes with everything you need right out of the box. Each box ships with the module itself, 4 sheets of paper with the folding template for PowerUp’s favorite plane model, two extra propellers, and a MicroUSB charging cable to get you started. There’s also a Trim Card in the set that helps you fold the plane’s rear flaps to the correct angle, and the card’s QR code helps you install the PowerUp app needed to control the device. The flaps on the rear of the plane help it balance out its weight and aerodynamic issues. Since the module is front-heavy, the plane has a tendency to nosedive – a feature that gets fixed by the upward flaps on the rear, which allow it to remain stable and horizontal.

The app gives you almost drone-level controls over your PowerUp plane. The home screen shows you Bluetooth connectivity strength and the PowerUp’s battery level, while also letting you control the way your plane flies. You can choose to make your plane do tricks and stunts (they’re all pre-programmed so that amateurs can enjoy too), and once your plane lands, you can view all its flight telemetry data (so pros get a kick out of it as well!) Besides, you’re not limited to a specific plane model, and the PowerUp contraption can pretty much be attached to a whole host of plane models and shapes – they don’t even need to be made out of paper. Plus, if it doesn’t work out and your little aircraft comes tumbling down to the ground, just pop off the PowerUp 4.0 and attach it to a new plane!

Designer: PowerUp Toys

Click Here to Buy Now

The post PowerUp 4.0 turns your regular paper airplane into an affordable remote-controlled drone! first appeared on Yanko Design.

LEGO Creations by master builders that elevate this popular children’s game to a whole new mindblowing level!

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Remember when we spent our summer vacations and free time after school fiddling around with LEGO blocks, and sometimes painfully stepping on them with our feet? Fun times, right? But, LEGO is no more considered child’s play! Master builders, artists, and LEGO enthusiasts all over the world are creating impressive LEGO builds that’ll blow your minds away. They are a result of their hours of dedication, attention to detail, hard work, and creativity. They can be considered works of art, and I love scrolling through these creations, admiring them, and feeling an intense surge of satisfaction at their perfection. And, we’ve curated the best of the lot for you to drool and go gaga over!

1. The LEGO Kumbi Saleh 3020 CE

Using over 100,000 LEGO pieces, designer Ekow Nimako imagines the Kumbi Saleh 3020 CE a Ghanaian metropolis 1000 years in the future. This artwork is the centerpiece for his exhibition titled Building Black Civilizations and showcases details like nothing you have ever seen before, almost reminiscent of the Game of Thrones title sequence!

2. The LEGO Ideas Antique Cash Register

Built to absolute stunning detail, the LEGO Ideas Antique Cash Register models itself directly on the National Cash Register Model 452 – a popular cashier’s machine from the 19th Century, designed and developed in Ohio at the start of the era of retail businesses. The LEGO variant, however, is the brainchild of a Master Builder who goes by the name of dimexart, and uses a whopping 2055 pieces to come together.

3. The LEGO Imperial Light Cruiser

The latest LEGO sets include the Moff Gideon’s Imperial Light Cruiser (which I’m surely going to add to the collection), Imperial Armored Marauder, and the bounty hunter Boba Fett’s Starship. The highlight of them all is the Imperial Light Cruiser (75315) which comes with a bridge (doubles as a handle for flying action), large spring-loaded shooters, and dual mini TIE Fighters. How could the LEGO set not have the main leads – that’s why it also comes with The Mandalorian and Baby Yoda minifigures along with the infamous villain Moff Gideon, Fennec Shand, Cara Dune, and the Dark Tropper too.

4. The LEGO Ideas Home Alone Set

The LEGO Ideas Home Alone set is your childhood fantasy come to life! You can now build, and spend time at the iconic Mcallister home. It’s the perfect way to kickstart Christmas! The LEGO home opens up, allowing you to access all the little rooms of the Mcallister residence. Laying traps has never been this easy and fun!

5. The LEGO Ship In A Bottle

Looking every bit like the real deal, the Ship In A Bottle is the latest from the clever master-builders at LEGO Ideas who churn out magical numbers such as the LEGO Typewriter we saw recently. Made using 962 pieces of LEGO (although a majority of them are just the water under the ship), the Ship In A Bottle comes with everything you’d expect, including a ship with 3 sails, a transparent bottle, a stand, a nameplate (the ship’s called the Leviathan), and even a cork-stopper made from LEGO bricks!

6. The LEGO AT-AT

You can now build a tribute to Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back with the largest LEGO AT-AT yet. The cool build is even equipped with rotating cannons and a bomb-drop hatch! Not to mention two little speeder bikes are included in it as well!

7. LEGO The Chamber of Secrets

Ethan Johnson (@ekjohnson_1) created this amazing Harry Potter-themed build which features The Chamber of Secrets. From a LEGO Harry to all the monstrosities you could find in The Chamber of Secrets – this build is as accurate and intricate as it gets!

8. LEGO The Colosseum

LEGO’s largest-ever set is an accurate and mind-boggling replica of The Colosseum! The intricate design, the attention to detail, and the medieval feels take me right back to the streets of Rome. This one is a must-try for all the history fanatics!

9. LEGO Boba Fett’s Starship

This LEGO brick version of Boba Fett’s Starship by Robert Whitehead (@shundeez_official) is as epic and majestic as it gets! It’s perfect for those bounty-hunting missions and battles that await you in the Star Wars world!

10. LEGO Wooden Homeware Collection

LEGO recently teamed up with the Danish design brand Room Copenhagen to create a warm and minimal homeware collection that includes wall hangers, picture frames, desk drawers, and book racks. The products mimick quite a few of the iconic LEGO elements – from the single stud to other easily recognizable pieces. And of course, all the items have been embellished with the iconic LEGO lettering! The full collection consists of a Wall Hanger Set (set of three), a picture frame, a book rack, two Desk Drawer options – 2×2 and 2×4.

The post LEGO Creations by master builders that elevate this popular children’s game to a whole new mindblowing level! first appeared on Yanko Design.

How to make your own Squid Game Doll using an iPad and a 3D Pen

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Every hit movie, TV series, or even trailer is predictably followed by two things – memes, and merch. Although Netflix’s Squid Game hasn’t seen any release of official merchandise, designers and builders like Sanago are taking it upon themselves to create their own collectibles. The ‘Squid Game Doll’ isn’t a product you can buy off the shelves, although Sanago’s video shows you how you can make it on your own. All you need is a $50-$70 3D Pen, a length of plastic filament, an iPad, and a couple of workshop tools to create a scaled-down replica of the killer doll from the smash-hit Korean series. If you want, you can even chuck in a stepper motor to make the doll’s head turn 180° for dramatic effect!

Click Here to Buy A 3D Pen

With a YouTube channel devoted specifically to 3D Pens, Sanago makes videos documenting how versatile 3D pens can be. Although the Japan-based YouTuber sells 3D pens under his own brand on Naver, the videos are more about showing what the pens are capable of, as he builds out tiny models of BMWs, Porsches, houses, cartoon/video-game characters, and occasionally also takes it upon himself to repair broken walls, stairs, and pillars with 3D pens. With the Squid Game Doll, however, Sanago taps into a wonderfully creative trick to making perfect collectible toys by simply tracing over images on an iPad. Fundamentally, this ensures that his models are perfect in their basic detail and proportion, and a steady hand always helps too. Sanago starts simply by drawing out the front profile of the doll to act as a guide for the rest of the 3D building.

The next steps involve turning the 2D profile into 3D forms by adding more cross-sections, building out first the legs, then the dress/torso, and finally the head.

Once there’s a rough skeleton to work with, Sanago basically fills in the gaps to create a ‘solid model’. Working almost like a 3D printer would (although taking less time, using less filament, and accruing a fraction of the cost), Sanago fills up the gaps rather rapidly, focusing more on getting the job done fast and well, instead of on proper accuracy. It’s absolutely fun to watch how the 3D pen essentially draws in air, and Sanago’s deft handiwork makes it even more incredible to watch as the rough forms come to life. The following steps will ensure that the model looks absolutely perfect.

The face is built out the same way as the rest of the doll, with a focus on the details like the eyes, nose, lips, etc. Two things are crucial here – firstly, making sure that you ensure the base model looks roughly the way you want it to look, and secondly, ensuring that there are absolutely no inconsistencies or gaps while filling up the rough 3D structure. Just the way a 3D printer adds layers to create a rigid surface, it’s imperative that you do the same, because even though the layers may look completely rough to begin with, they’ll be finished to reveal a much smoother model.

At this point, the model looks like a cake of ramen noodles before they go into boiling water. This is absolutely intentional because the design process here is a combination of additive and subtractive modeling. Sanago first creates a rough model of the toy, and when he’s satisfied with how it looks overall, he works on the finer details, creating a smooth product from the rough, hollow, plastic mass.

Speaking of hollow mass, Sanago also repurposes electrical components from a toy parrot and places them inside the doll. A control board, microphone, and speaker go in the hollow torso, two AA batteries go into each leg, and a stepper motor sits in the neck, allowing the head to rotate on command.

The finishing process finally begins with a heated carving tool, that Sanago uses to melt the noodly texture on the doll and make it smoother. It’s a laborious process that requires time and patience, but turns the basic rough 3D model into something that looks much more like the final product. It also allows Sanago to carve in details like lips, eyelids, and the lines on the hair. Although Sanago’s MacGyvered heating tool isn’t something every household would have, the easiest way to really get the job done is either a knife and a candle or using a heat-gun or hair-dryer if you’re comfortable. One great benefit to the creative process here is that you can pretty much use any color filament you’ve got lying around. As long as the filaments are of the same material, they should adhere well, and the entire model gets a coat of paint in the end, so any underlying color works for your design.

At this point, it’s sort of like working with any 3D printed, CNC-machined, or hand-made model. Sanago gets to work sanding the surfaces with a Dremel tool and a sanding bit, making sure there aren’t any bumps or inconsistencies in the surface. Parts don’t need to be modeled with fixtures here because the 3D Pen simply lets you glue components together, while the Dremel tool easily lets you sand or buff out welding/joining marks.

When the entire thing’s ready, it gets a coat of paint, applied in this case, using a spray gun (although you could just hand-paint your toys too). Sanago’s toy also comes with movable hands, details that just require a bit of planning beforehand (followed by some sanding and finishing), and a switch at the bottom lets you switch the toy on or off. Cleverly enough, Sanago even outfits the doll’s microphone unit behind its petticoat button, and a buttonhole lets you easily record what your doll’s going to say, while a speaker in the back plays out the doll’s deadpan dialogues. The video ends with Sanago even hacking together a Pink Guard Helmet using a 3D pen, and creating a demo video of the Red Light Green Light game in progress. While it doesn’t cinematically match up to what Netflix pushes out, it’s gotten over 14 million views on YouTube, which is pretty impressive if you ask me!

Designer: Sanago

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The post How to make your own Squid Game Doll using an iPad and a 3D Pen first appeared on Yanko Design.

LEGO meets Architecture in these innovative + detailed constructions by master builders!

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Remember when we spent our summer vacations and free time after school fiddling around with LEGO blocks, and sometimes painfully stepping on them with our feet? Fun times, right? But, LEGO is no more considered child’s play! Master builders, artists, and LEGO enthusiasts all over the world are creating impressive LEGO builds that’ll blow your minds away. And my favorite type of LEGO builds is mindblowing architecture! These architectural constructions are a result of hours of dedication, attention to detail, hard work, and creativity. They can be considered works of art, and I love scrolling through these creations, admiring them, and feeling an intense surge of satisfaction at their perfection. And, we’ve curated the best of the lot for you to drool and go gaga over!

Using over 100,000 LEGO pieces, designer Ekow Nimako imagines the Kumbi Saleh 3020 CE a Ghanaian metropolis 1000 years in the future. This artwork is the centerpiece for his exhibition titled Building Black Civilizations and showcases details like nothing you have ever seen before, almost reminiscent of the Game of Thrones title sequence!

Speaking of Game of Thrones-esque magnanimous scenes, Rocco Buttliere, a Chicago-based architect has displayed his detailed skill and love of architecture with this Purple Forbidden City! Borrowing from the historic ages of the Chinese royalty, the design features a Hall of Supreme Harmony. Speaking of building this design, the designer says, “Finally, and probably most instructive to myself and perhaps others during this time of uncertainty, are a particular few words of a famous proverb by Laozi which kept me looking forward during this four-month undertaking: A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

This LEGO creation is basically Cyberpunk architecture come to life! The attention to detail, use of multiple colors, and towering height make this structure a complete eyecatcher. LEGO fanatic @geng_3dboy even added miniatures cars and buses to his work of art. I love the automobile detailing!

Benedek Lampert’s love for photography and LEGO can be seen in this autumnal scene that brings a mystical forest to life. In fact, so vivid is the image, it could easily belong to one of the scenes from JRR Tolkien’s epic novels! And you know, those little adventurers walking towards the mystical tree could easily be the ring bearers on their quest!

LEGO’s largest-ever set is an accurate and mind-boggling replica of The Colosseum! The intricate design, the attention to detail, and the medieval feels take me right back to the streets of Rome. This one is a must-try for all the history fanatics!

This dystopian cyberpunk build is amazingly detailed. Built by @insomniabuilds, this chaotic little world features everything – from dilapidated homes to eccentric humans of the future! Could this be a possible future for all of us?

A detailed mini kingdom fit for LEGO royalty! An impressive castle with majestic turrets is surrounded by a little water body, with a ship in its harbor. Built by @zilmrud, the royal kingdom features little palm trees and a cascading waterfall as well!

We’re taking a trip to Medieval times with The Blacksmith! It features a well-stocked workshop filled with tools, coals, and armor, with a detailed landscape. In fact, the coals even glow!

This one is for all the Harry Potter buffs! This amazingly lifelike Hogwarts build features stairs that move, and real figures as the paintings! How cool is this one?

The iconic Daily Bugle office has come to LEGO life! From a newsstand to an all-star cast of Marvel’s most celebrated heroes and villains, the build is detailed, animated, and super fun.

LEGO Creations by master builders that prove LEGO is not just child’s play!

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Remember when we spent our summer vacations and free time after school fiddling around with LEGO blocks, and sometimes painfully stepping on them with our feet? Fun times, right? But, LEGO is no more considered child’s play! Master builders, artists, and LEGO enthusiasts all over the world are creating impressive LEGO builds that’ll blow your minds away. They are a result of their hours of dedication, attention to detail, hard work, and creativity. They can be considered works of art, and I love scrolling through these creations, admiring them, and feeling an intense surge of satisfaction at their perfection. And, we’ve curated the best of the lot for you to drool and go gaga over!

Using over 100,000 LEGO pieces, designer Ekow Nimako imagines the Kumbi Saleh 3020 CE a Ghanaian metropolis 1000 years in the future. This artwork is the centerpiece for his exhibition titled Building Black Civilizations and showcases details like nothing you have ever seen before, almost reminiscent of the Game of Thrones title sequence!

The iconic Toyota GR Supra (earlier known as Celica Supra) celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. To celebrate the same, LEGO Japan, LEGOLAND Japan, and Toyota Gazoo Racing have put together a life-size replica of the sports car that’ll make your jaws drop. The LEGO version is slightly wider than the original GR Supra, weighs much more (4,156 pounds) – and is, for the most part, made entirely out of LEGO bricks which is an impressive sight, irrespective of whether you are a LEGO fan.

With a rotating crank-lever on the side (sort of like a jack-in-the-box) the Pac-Man Moving Display is a fun little interactive toy that features the familiar pill-munching spherical character along with 4 ghosts. Rotate the lever on the side and the ghosts bob up and down, while Pac-Man’s mouth moves vertically too, just like in the videogame!

Designed by LEGO fanatic Steve Guinness, the LEGO set is called 21327 Typewriter – styled to bring back the memories of 50s typewriters. It doesn’t surprise that the LEGO typewriter is actually inspired by the original typewriter used by LEGO Group founder Ole Kirk Kristiansen. According to Federico Begher, VP of Global Marketing at LEGO Group, the vintage typewriter has an enchanting appeal and, “Steve’s incredible replica is a thoroughly worthy LEGO Ideas success story.” It’ll be something that mingles the two worlds seamlessly – a thing that LEGO fans will take pride in displaying in their living room. Steve wanted to create something intricate and new for LEGO, so he bought a vintage typewriter. He then set out to figure out how he could arrange the bricks and replicate a typewriter’s complex mechanism to achieve the final design. In the end, he managed to create a LEGO set that doesn’t look like a LEGO creation when viewed from a distance.

This breathtakingly realistic car was created by a team of 15 people who put over 8000 hours of work into recreating the automotive beauty. The car was built meticulously out of LEGO Technic pieces, and barring the wheels and the logo on front, practically the entire vehicle is made solely from LEGO bricks. In fact, even the headlights, taillights, and the light-strips running along the side are LEGO pieces!

TOMOELL’s LEGO Fender Stratocaster is an immaculate beauty, looking very recognizably like the original. It comes with 6 faux strings that connect from the bridge all the way down the fretboard to 6 tuning keys (I’m fairly certain those are representational too) and even sports the knobs, pickups, and the vibrato arm that guitarists love to use! Made from 335 LEGO bricks, the Strat is incomplete without its accessories, a 54-piece guitar-stand, a 287-piece Fender amp, and even a tiny foot-pedal for extra effect!

The upcoming ZX 8000 sneaker collaboration was announced by Adidas Originals as a part of its ongoing A-ZX series. Stepping on LEGO blocks but now they can’t hurt you because you have made allies with the enemy HA! Adidas usually has the classic monochromatic shoes with a few bold limited-edition drops and this sneaker design certainly incorporates elements from both brands in a way that none are overpowered – so you can recognize those Adidas curves but you can also relate to the LEGO colors!

A LEGO creation for the history buffs! Swan Dutchman created the mask of Tutankhamun! The ancient Egyptian Pharoah has always been a source of curiosity, and this mask does him complete justice. Initially, Dutchman built the mask using 16,000 lego pieces and is displayed at the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities, however, he downscaled the number of elements used and created a smaller and more compact version.

Speaking of Game of Thrones-esque magnanimous scenes, Rocco Buttliere, a Chicago-based architect has displayed his detailed skill and love of architecture with this Purple Forbidden City! Borrowing from the historic ages of the Chinese royalty, the design features a Hall of Supreme Harmony. Speaking of building this design, the designer says, “Finally, and probably most instructive to myself and perhaps others during this time of uncertainty, are a particular few words of a famous proverb by Laozi which kept me looking forward during this four-month undertaking: A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

Fusing the nostalgia of watching ‘80s cult classics like Back to the Future and spending entire afternoons building with LEGO bricks, Brickstuff designed the LEGO version of Doc Brown’s Flux Capacitor as a kit for anyone to construct, all ages welcome. The kit comes complete with a whopping 18 new LEGO bricks, a pre-assembled pliant circuit board, LED lights that actually glow with the help of a battery pack, and three AA batteries. You’ll have to buy the batteries separately, but the kit comes included with illustrated assembly instructions to aid in the building process.