Monogoto's KUUM: Redefining Toy Blocks

Unleashing Children's Creativity with Innovative Design

Monogoto's KUUM is a collection of 12 iconic units, each with two color variants. Each unit can be further disassembled into 36 unique shapes, resulting in a total of 202 pieces. The lengths and angles of each piece have been carefully calculated and designed to maximize the number of combinations possible. This design approach allows for a wide range of variations, from simple to abstract, encouraging children to explore their creativity.

The design of KUUM was inspired by the fundamental elements of Japanese nature such as pebbles, twigs, and sea shells. The blocks are made from natural beech wood, further emphasizing the connection to nature. Each set includes two block units with different colors associated with each theme. The themes are contained in a triangular prism, cube, or cylinder form, adding another layer of creativity and exploration for children.

Monogoto faced several challenges in the creation of KUUM. The biggest challenge was the reduction of manufacturing cost due to the wide variety of unique shaped pieces. To overcome this, all the pieces were designed to have at least two parallel planes, allowing them to be produced in a cookie-cutter manner at factories. Quality control of the 36 different colors and shapes of the blocks was another challenge, which was overcome through rigorous cooperation with the manufacturing team.

KUUM is more than just a toy. It's a tool that helps children discover their creative potential. The blocks cover four types of creation: geometric puzzle, 3D-painting, object modeling, and story telling. This diversity and limitation, along with their pre-established harmony, enables immense imagination and creativity. Even parents and children with different creative preferences can play together with KUUM, making it a versatile and inclusive toy.

Monogoto's KUUM has been recognized for its innovative design and impact on children's creativity. It was awarded the Golden in A' Baby, Kids and Children's Products Design Award in 2017. The award is granted to marvelous, outstanding, and trendsetting creations that reflect the designer's prodigy and wisdom. KUUM is indeed a venerated product and a bright idea that advances art, science, design, and technology, embodying extraordinary excellence and significantly impacting the world with its desirable characteristics.