“Sometimes the best interface is two hands and a curious mind.”
Some projects start with a sketch. Others with a spreadsheet. This one started with a city gate and a basket full of buildings from three different centuries.
Our task? Build a physical puzzle based on a historical part of a city. The puzzle had to be tactile, inviting, and just tricky enough to get people thinking — not just about where each piece goes, but when it belongs.
The concept was simple on the surface: the user gets a blank layout of a city district — specifically the area around a historic gate and tower — and a pile of 30 building blocks representing houses, landmarks, and key features. Each of these blocks was modeled after three different time periods, all mixed together. The challenge? Rebuild the district to match the correct historical era — placing the right pieces in the right spot on the map.
We were given only the idea — and from there, had to figure out everything else: the shape and layout of the ground, the scale of the buildings, how to digitally model, 3D print, and test every single piece.
What made the project especially fun (and slightly maddening) was the no-magnet, no-snap, no-glue policy. Everything had to fit together perfectly, using nothing but clever geometry and lots of testing. Hours went into fine-tuning the base shapes, figuring out how to guide the user with just enough subtle cues — and how to make sure everything stayed upright once it was placed.
After many rounds of trial and error, the final version was printed in a wood-like filament that was both light and warm to the touch, giving the puzzle a natural, welcoming feel. And the feedback? Better than expected. People loved it — they explored, they guessed, they rebuilt, and sometimes even got it right on the first try.
It reminded us how fun it can be to make things you can actually hold, twist, turn, and figure out — especially when they’re rooted in history and wrapped in mystery.
We’re already talking about doing more. Maybe something for the visitors in our own offices. Maybe a few more historical twists. Whatever it is, we’re sure our team will come up with something… puzzling.
