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Die Übrigen Entdecker
The Little Explorers
Die Übrigen Entdecker is a family of wooden toys inspired by the woodworking techniques of the German Erzgebirge region, reimagined in a modern style that is suitable to an international market. Carved from leftover wood, the toys travel from workshop to world, ready to tell new stories.
Skills used in this project:
Ideation, Sketching, Solidworks Modeling, Keyshot Rendering, Prototyping.
Erzgebirge Wooden Toys
Originates from the Ore Mountains region of Germany
Initially crafted by miners seeking alternative livelihoods
The industry faces challenges from mass production and changing consumer habits.
Traditional Handmade Process
Wood Turning
Detail Carving
Painting
Assembling
Reifendrehen
Reifendrehen, or ring-turning, is a traditional woodworking technique used in the Erzgebirge region. It involves carving wooden rings on a lathe and slicing them into thin cross-sections to efficiently create multiple miniature figures while preserving a handcrafted feel.
What if we reimagine Erzgebirge wooden toys in a modern way using woodworking techniques?
Character Ideation
The characters are formed from simple geometric shapes—spheres, cylinders, cones, and cubes—crafted using traditional woodworking techniques such as bandsaw cutting, lathing, ring turning, and carving. These shapes keep the designs abstract, allowing for aesthetic flexibility and creative assembly into original characters for storytelling.
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