CIRCINO

 

Circino, designed by Negar Kalantar* and produced by Naef Spiele in Switzerland, is a balance toy that is made up of seventeen semicircle-shaped wooden pieces which form a complete circle in its packaging at rest. In motion, Cicino’s pieces can be stacked and balanced in ingenious ways. Circino has drawn her inspiration from simple but exciting laws of physics.

 

Circino provides a joyful experience of discovery and engagement available to the users.

By tying together play, imagination and hand/eye coordination, Circino challenges one to create through play. While users add piece by piece of Circino to employ agility, focus and consequence, they can magically configure carefully balanced compositions. The design value of this toy can inspire creative play, and the value derived by user increases when they are constantly interacting with the toy. Circino engages users in hands-on experiments that emphasize learning through doing. Circino can be used in a variety of ways. There is no specific age requirement to interact with this toy, and both children and adults can benefit for years to come.

Naef launched Circino at the International Toyfair in Nürnberg (Germany) in February 2014 and it was presented in the MOTION + eMOTION exhibition in the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech in summer 2014. Recently, “Circino” has been produced in an exclusive limited edition to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the College of Architecture & Urban Studies at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. 

“Naef’s toys are the -Rolls Royce-of wooden toys. In a fast-moving and electronically oriented time, they maintain their permanent position in the marketplace with timeless design; loving, high-quality workmanship; and sound pedagogical design. Naef s toys are represented in the collections of important museums, for example in the Museum of Modern Art and in Japan.”

From back cover of Kurt Naef book; Der Spielzeugmacher / Toy Maker