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Multi purposes Totem

It has been a long time since we feature a Totem… So here it is!

This totem is at the Design Studio entrance and as often it serves different purposes.
It is firstly a welcoming sculpture. The height of it makes it impressive and it tells at first sight that the space you are entering is different.
It is also a Bookshelf and if you cover it with quotes and messages it becomes a sort of an inspirational corner.
Finally, because it is surrounded by benches, it is also a place to stop, take a breath and discuss with others.

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Teambuilding with Tetrix

When you are starting a new journey with a group, it is often a good idea to spend the first moment meeting each other, ‘breaking the ice’, so the following interactions are more spontaneous and friendly.

It might be a moment of teambuilding, which literally means creating or fostering the team spirit. Now feeling part of a team is expecting to be supported by your fellow comrades as well as helping them when it is needed. It is based on empathy and trust.

So, designing a teambuilding experience is all about stimulating empathy. It is crafting a shared experience for each member to recognize his/her feelings within his/her partners.

We have designed such an experience with our Tetrix cube and we thought it might be a good idea to share it with you. Here is how it goes:

The space is wide open with no chairs or desk. What you see is mainly a large pile of cubes, sort of welcoming totem, waiting for you.

When newcomers go through the door, they feel a bit confused. This is where the experience begins…

First, they have to crack the enigma: ‘Where are the chairs and those whiteboards we have been promised’?
Ultimately, they will guess that the cubes are the answer but how does it work? Can we sit on it? Does it stack? They have to examine together this bizarre piece of furniture until the expected ‘hoooo, but we can actually build things!’ happens, followed by a round of applause and excitement.

Of course, before going any further, there are negotiations on what they should build. Should it be a whiteboard wall or rather a table? The group discusses, compromises and finally takes the cubes and starts building.

In a matter of 10 minutes, this group has been through a little adventure.  Not quite a donjon quest but a positive first shared experience. They found answers, they laughed, they negotiated and decided collectively what was the best set-up for them and they finally built it.
Genuine team building.

This collective moment works even after two or three times.
The enigma has been cracked but it will be replaced by more architectural audacity 😉

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Used cubes and accessories sell $

Hello everyone;
If you want to bring collaboration and creativity to your space this is the moment!
We are selling a batch of cubes that have been previously used in workshops. They are still in pretty good condition and the price cut is 60%.
– The stock is limited –

Our cubes are available in West Europe (shipped from France), Australia and South-Est Asia (shipped from Malaysia).
Whiteboard tiles and feet set are available too. See all the items in details here

As always, I’m happy to answer all your question – valentin.bore@tingtang.design

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Minecraft-like

When we created the Tetrix cubes, our goal was to transform the average space into a Minecraft-like environment, that could evolve, transform freely, a sort of living organism.
But the ‘alive’ part is not coming from the cubes… It is coming from the users and it can take a while before they really adopt this new tool.

So, as the designer, it is a great satisfaction to see a team that has integrated Tetrix in its habits and as a new reflex, look for a cube for a bit of everything. Need for a sitting? A sketching support, a backdrop? The cubes will do it!

TingTang Design and Openfield keep running online workshops those days using the Tetrix cubes. It keeps changing and moving, but the cubes are always here, supporting the needs for a constant and quick transformation 😉
A true alive space.

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1 week – 1 build #5

Like most of us, we try to reduce the number of our face-to-face meetings by replacing them with phone calls and video calls, as much as we can. But working in an open environment does not make our life easy. The space becomes noisy and unpleasant.
In the past, we built an enclosed phonebooth (see article) with its cute little desk and light specially dedicated for those who needed a video conference. However, as effective as it was, it appeared to be a bit bulky. So we decided to build a new version, better integrated, but still enjoyable and sound-proofed.

We came up with this idea of a hidden cave; a sort of secret comfy space.
We built a large, tall bookshelf at the entrance of the Design Studio. You won’t notice anything special about it when you enter the space, until you turn around and sneak in a little door…  Only then will you discover the gem. It is a long, large bench, covered with cushions, surrounded by books, whiteboard tiles and plushies.
All you need for a good conference.

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Here is the new whiteboard tile!

It has been a long process with a lot of trial and error, but finally here it is!
The new whiteboard tile for the Tetrix cube is available.
This new design fixes a few flaws our first version had. It was too fragile, too heavy and had a tendency to slide down from the cube.
This upgraded version is flexible and therefore do not fear dropping it. It is almost unbreakable! 😉
Its weight has also improved by 15%.
And finally, we have added 4 magnetic rings at the back that connect within the cube, so the tile is always perfectly aligned and can’t slide anymore.

You can order you whiteboard tile here

0.8mm Whiteboard magnetic rubber on natural cork.
4 magnetic rings made of PLA (corn based bio-degradable plastic)

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1 week – 1 build #4

Hello everyone;

Here is our fourth build and this time it is giant letters. YEAH!

During workshop, we often need to build big signage or large sculptures, so that they are visible from afar and not only by the first row.

Even though the Tetrix cubes are magnetic, the bonding force was not enough for large construction. Multiple cubes couldn’t stand above the void, for example.

To remedy the situation, we have created the connector that allows you to firmly connect two cubes. By multiplying those connectors, your structure becomes really stiff so you can go for higher and more complex shapes.

The connector is already on sale – check out our online store

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1 week – 1 build #3

This is ‘1 Week, 1 Build’ #3 and this time we have done a bleacher.
It is a simple yet very useful build, as many of us often host presentations in their space. This one has two levels but it can easily be upgraded into a 3 level bleacher if you need to accommodate more people.
One important tip here: as people need to walk across in order to reach their seat, we found that adding a few pieces of wood as a walk path improves the stiffness a lot and prevents your cube from being damaged or getting dirty.

Tetrix bleacher

We had a few pieces left over in our workshop but you can get plywood custom cut (1x40x80 cm) for a very cheap price almost anywhere.

Have a great week!
the TingTang team