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Illusory 2D Blocks

These Paper-Bricks Make Impossible Escher-Esque Stacks That Remain Flat

— February 19, 2014 — Art & Design
If you'd like to erect an incredible toy sculpture without the risk of it toppling down, these Paper-Bricks would make your ideal playthings. Made by Nendo, this collection was designed as an interactive insert in Pen, a Japanese lifestyle magazine. It invites readers to get creative with all sorts of structures that would never stand in three dimensions without glue or hardware.

Tetris-like pieces are given the illusion of 3D thanks to tricolor surface treatment. Woodgrain patterns in three timber shades resemble the shadowed effects of true rectangular prisms beneath an oblique light source. With these Paper-Bricks, the idea is not to puzzle piece them together by touching their edges, but rather to overlap them. This provides the visual impression of piled components.
Trend Themes
1. Illusionary Paper-bricks - Create 3D structures with the illusion of stability using Tetris-like Paper-Bricks.
2. Interactive Toy Sculptures - Design and build interactive toy sculptures that rely on visual impressions rather than traditional assembly methods.
3. Tricolor Surface Treatment - Experiment with tricolor surface treatments to create visually striking illusions in product design.
Industry Implications
1. Toy Manufacturing - Explore new possibilities in toy manufacturing by incorporating illusionary 3D structures that are visually appealing and offer stability without glue or hardware.
2. Publishing - Incorporate interactive inserts in magazines or publications to engage readers in creative activities that push the boundaries of traditional paper-based design.
3. Product Design - Apply tricolor surface treatments in product design to create captivating illusions and unique aesthetic experiences.
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