DOCKLETS: The Future of Building Blocks

A New System of Building Bricks for Imaginative Play

Welcome to the world of DOCKLETS – a new system of building bricks for both small and tall builders! Its hook and loop coins allow you to create 3D models which would be impossible to build with conventional toy blocks. The coins are color-coded for intuitive use and also ensure a certain flexibility between the blocks, leading to ergonomic shapes and the recreation of movements. Illustrated step-by-step instructions make building the model ideas child’s play. DOCKLETS blocks are all compatible with each other, thus promoting imagination, free play, and the structural fun of building.

Like millions of kids around the globe, Thade Precht, the designer behind DOCKLETS, loved playing with LEGO when he was little. However, he always felt that the solid nature of the LEGO connectors limited flexibility, movement, and ergonomics. Years later, while watching his own son absorbed in playing with toy blocks, Precht had an epiphany – he came up with the idea of creating a new kind of building brick that was not only eco-friendly but could also be 3D assembled into various flexible and ergonomic shapes.

DOCKLETS is a revolutionary system of building blocks that takes the concept of toy bricks to a whole new level. The hook and loop coins on each block allow for unlimited 3D constructions that were previously unimaginable with conventional toy blocks. The color-coded coins make it easy to assemble and disassemble the blocks, while also providing a certain flexibility between them. This flexibility enables the creation of ergonomic shapes and even the recreation of movements.

One of the key strengths of DOCKLETS is its intuitive and playful building experience. The blocks come with illustrated step-by-step instructions that make it easy for builders of all ages to bring their model ideas to life. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced builder, DOCKLETS offers endless possibilities for creativity and imagination.

The DOCKLETS blocks are made of 100% pure poplar wood, enhanced with hook and loop coins made of polyamide and hot-melt adhesive. They come in different shapes and sizes, all of which are compatible with each other. Each set contains 40-50 pieces and offers 3-4 model ideas to get builders started on their creative journey.

The DOCKLETS project started in October 2014 in Berlin, Germany. After extensive research and testing of various toy block products, the team behind DOCKLETS aimed to provide a building experience that was both familiar and unique. The goal was to create a toy that would challenge children's creativity while still being intuitive and enjoyable to play with.

One of the main challenges in designing DOCKLETS was ensuring that all parts of all sets were fully intermateable and easy to manufacture. The team also had to find the right balance between the sizes of the bricks and the adhesion of the hook and loop coins. Ultimately, a custom hot-melt glue had to be fabricated specifically for DOCKLETS to achieve the desired level of flexibility and durability.

DOCKLETS has already received recognition for its innovative design. It was awarded the Iron A' Design Award in the Toys, Games, and Hobby Products Design category in 2016. This prestigious award is given to well-designed, practical, and innovative creations that meet professional and industrial requirements.

Get ready to embark on a new building adventure with DOCKLETS. Let your imagination run wild as you create unique and flexible structures that defy the limitations of traditional toy blocks. With DOCKLETS, the future of building blocks is here.


Project Details and Credits

Project Designers: Thade Precht
Image Credits: Image #1: Photographer Ekkehard Nitschke, DOCKLETS Set 58000, 2015. Image #2: Photographer Ekkehard Nitschke, DOCKLETS Sets 58000/58010/58020/58030, 2015. Image #3: Packaging designer Thade Precht, DOCKLETS Front Cover Sets 58000/58010/58020/58030, 2015. Image #4: Packaging designer Thade Precht, DOCKLETS Back Cover Sets 58000/58010/58020/58030, 2015. Image #5: Illustrator Thade Precht, DOCKLETS Instruction samples Set 58010, 2015.
Project Team Members: Ideation, conception, design, model making: Thade Precht. Project management: Juergen Exner. Photographer: Ekkehard Nitschke.
Project Name: Docklets
Project Client: Thade Precht


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