Puzzles come in many shapes and sizes.
There are four-piece puzzles for toddlers, those with more than 6,000 pieces to tackle as a team or for the more advanced puzzler, and everything between.
They come in difficult patterns, all one colour, clear, unexpected shapes and with no borders.
Generally, however, a puzzler finds some calm in the sorting, seeking and placing B次元官网网址� with a defined image as the goal.
A Victoria toymakerB次元官网网址檚 new puzzle, Contra, however, is different. Technically has no solution, or endless solutions, depending on perspective.
This new anti-puzzle resembles its conventional counterpart, but with 1,125 pieces in five solid colours, no set image to strive for and all the interior pieces are identical in shape, allowing them to be fit together in endless configurations.
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While it may sound more frustrating than soothing, it opens outlets of creativity while offering the peaceful motions of a traditional jigsaw, said creator Matt Hiebert of Aroundsquare.
B次元官网网址淵ou can sit around with people and do it together and itB次元官网网址檚 a bit of a social pressure valve. YouB次元官网网址檙e not obligated to be talking, talking talking, you can just relax and be together,B次元官网网址� Hiebert said.
A toy designer for 20 years, the newest creation brings a taste of HiebertB次元官网网址檚 early days when he developed unusually-shaped wooden blocks for users to build unexpected sculptures.
B次元官网网址淭hese were decidedly B次元官网网址榶ouB次元官网网址檙e not building anything that resembles anythingB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 just the joy of open-ended building,B次元官网网址� Hiebert said.
The twist introduces similar opportunities for puzzle-builders to create their own works of art within the structure of the jigsaw medium.
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If someone starts with a blank paper to make a picture the options are perhaps too endless, but given a few constraints, such as using straight lines and only three colours, the parameters give way to richer ideas of a similar flavour, he explained.
B次元官网网址淚 started to realize that creativity can be facilitated when you have a structure youB次元官网网址檙e building within. B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 an enriching experience.B次元官网网址�
It also levels the playing field between those who excel at puzzles and those who donB次元官网网址檛. Hiebert said his youngest, who is four, spent hours putting pieces together this winter.
B次元官网网址淏ecause they can fit together in any arrangement thereB次元官网网址檚 no frustration,B次元官网网址� he explained.
Contra is a veer away from the small metal skill toys theyB次元官网网址檝e been developing the last few years.
In recent years, AroundsquareB次元官网网址檚 focus is on playable art objects that blur the lines between jewelry, mindfulness tools, personal accessories, and creative skill toys. Past releases include a solid platinum knucklebone skill toy, as well as a hefty 750g stainless steel gravity cup.
B次元官网网址淲e like to do strange stuff. We try not to be limited in our creativity,B次元官网网址� Hiebert said. B次元官网网址淭hat part of the business was growing really well. It was a step sideways to do a puzzle.B次元官网网址�
He wanted to build to a certain scale before introducing something like this puzzle.
B次元官网网址淢y customers are not expecting me to stay in my lane anymore,B次元官网网址� he said.
Aroundsquare also plans to open a retail space this year in the Sparrow building on the corner of Cook Street and Hillside Avenue.
B次元官网网址淰ictoria is becoming a bit of a puzzle hub,B次元官网网址� Hiebert said, pointing to Puzzle Lab in Victoria and Cobble Hill Puzzles in Saanich.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e excited about the possibility of what we can do with that place. Our products are quite niche.B次元官网网址�
Contra is set to launch online Jan. 26.
