Cadmium yellow dominates the visual field through five elongated handheld implements arranged in a dynamic diagonal cascade against pristine white ground, their sculptural forms suggesting tools of cr

Rectangular packaging for this construction toolkit presents a sophisticated compositional architecture where product photography dominates the primary plane, establishing immediate visual hierarchy t

Paul Justin's Makedo Cardboard Construction System reveals itself through a carefully orchestrated instructional composition divided into three primary quadrants against a luminous cyan background tha

Paul Justin's Cardboard Construction System radiates across a vibrant cerulean background in an isometric projection that establishes immediate spatial legibility and democratic visual access to dozen

Paul Justin's Cardboard Construction System presents a nine-panel compositional grid orchestrated in triadic rhythmic sequence, each quadrant functioning as an autonomous vignette while contributing t

Gold Toys, Games and Hobby Products Design · 2019

Makedo Cardboard Construction System

by Paul Justin

A' Design Award 2019 Gold Winner in Toys, Games and Hobby Products Design
Awarded April 15, 2019
CLIENT: Makedo
Estimated Number of Design Views: 57,630
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About Makedo Cardboard Construction System

Makedo is an open-ended system of tools for creative cardboard construction. The Makedo system is made up of seven elements that allow cardboard to be sawn, folded and connected without sharp edges. Screws and screwdrivers join up to six layers of corrugated cardboard, while a fold roller perforates lines for shaping. The tools are moulded from polypropylene, ABS and steel, and are sold as single tools, home kits or classroom kits. Creations can range from small handheld objects to large group builds. Makedo is intended to help children repurpose everyday cardboard through play.

Paul Justin's Makedo Cardboard Construction System represents a thoughtful contribution to contemporary educational design, positioning itself within the broader tradition of creative construction toys that have fostered imaginative play and spatial reasoning since the early twentieth century. The system appears to reference the pedagogical philosophies of constructivist learning, wherein children develop understanding through hands-on manipulation of materials and self-directed exploration. The chromatic choices prove particularly noteworthy, with the dominant cadmium yellow conveying optimism, energy, and accessibility while coral-pink accents soften the utilitarian associations of tool forms, and turquoise connectors provide visual distinction for component categorization. The formal vocabulary demonstrates sophisticated industrial design thinking, each implement exhibiting ergonomic consideration through gently curved bodies that suggest comfortable grip, while the signature ovoid apertures serve dual purposes of storage convenience and brand identity reinforcement. The safe blade forms with their rounded serrations indicate careful attention to child safety without sacrificing functional utility, embodying the design principle that protection need not preclude capability. The system's evident modularity invites consideration of how contemporary design increasingly embraces open-ended play frameworks that resist prescribed outcomes in favor of creative self-determination. One observes in these implements an implicit celebration of cardboard as creative medium, transforming ubiquitous packaging material into substrate for imagination, thereby introducing young makers to principles of sustainable material reuse. The presentation itself merits attention for its clean product photography aesthetic, each element positioned to reveal both individual character and systemic relationship, inviting viewers to imagine the constructions these tools might enable.

Press Kit

Unique Properties: Makedo is a simple to use, open-ended system of tools for creative cardboard construction. Makedo enables children to see value in everyday cardboard and to independently repurpose it into imaginative, playful and useful creations, all the while fostering the critical thinking skills of tomorrow’s problem solvers. Makedo comes to life in collaborative, creative environments such as classrooms, maker-spaces, libraries, museums and homes.
Dimensions & Packaging: Makedo kits are available in varying quantities. From individual tools to home kits to classroom kits.

Discover - 126 pieces (320 mm x 240 mm x 45 mm)

Creations made with Makedo can be any size depending on the cardboard supply and capability of the maker/s. From one person holding a small creation in their hand up to hundreds of people collaborating to build a football field sized maze, anything is possible.
Tags: education, play, stem, steam, cardboard, toy, imagination, diy
Production Technology: The Makedo system is manufactured primarily by injection moulding.
SCRUs: PP.
Tools: ABS.
Blades: PA66 or SS#420.

As our primary market is in education, we were highly cognisant of ensuring we maintained our position of affordability for newly introduced parts and kits. Consolidated design and material selection were key to achieving this. In addition, we offer a free library of printable part files which can be 3D printed to enhance, accessorise and hack the making process.
Design Challenge: As an own brand, there is a continual subconscious process of product development. Our ongoing objective is to apply Dieter Rams’ 10 Principles of Good Design. Our primary endeavour with Makedo 3.0 was to consolidate the design language of the Makedo system (four new tools which utilise a single handle design), extend overall capability for older makers 7+ without compromising safety (3+ safe metal blades), and reducing the use of plastics in our packaging (achieved 80/100%, sku dependent).
Project Duration: The project started in March 2017 in Melbourne, and was introduced to trade in January 2019.
Operation Flow: The Makedo system is comprised of seven unique elements.
SCRU: connects up to three layers of corrugated cardboard.
SCRU XL: connects up to six layers of corrugated cardboard.
SCRU-DRIVER: connect cardboard as simply as righty tighty, lefty loosey.
SAFE-SAW JNR.: flexible plastic blade to saw cardboard, not fingers.
SAFE-SAW: steel blade with no sharp edges to swiftly saw cardboard.
FOLD-ROLLER: perforate lines to sculpt cardboard like a pro.
MINI-TOOL: for parallel and cooperative making.
Research: Research methodology included; documentation and discussion of our own observations and experience using Makedo, customer feedback, extensive prototyping (over 300 3D-printed/laser-cut models), user testing and multiple factory visits to discuss materials and manufacturing process.

Primary insight was a need to extend system capability as older makers were finding the SAFE-SAW too crude for refined projects whilst younger makers were becoming increasingly adept at using Makedo.
Inspiration: Children are endlessly imaginative. Ever eager to make indescribable thingamajigs for play, Paul Justin (PJ) sought to develop an open-ended construction system simple enough to enable his children (and many others) to independently create worlds of their own imagining. PJ's ‘aha moment’ was found in cardboard; a universally available, free and unlimited building block. Combined with the development of intuitive, reusable tools for crafting and connecting cardboard, Makedo was born.
Image Credits: Image #1: Photographer Mark Lobo, 2019
Image #4: Illustrator Bill Hope, 2018