Press Release
A' Design Award in Toys, Games and Hobby Products Design Goes to Choppy Wooden Balance Bike for Kids by Aldis Blicsons
Aldis Blicsons recognized for toys, games and hobby products design by the international grand jury of the 2021 - 2022 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 22, 2022 /DesignNewswire/ Choppy Wooden Balance Bike for Kids by Aldis Blicsons, designed for STUM Inc., has been granted the A' Design Award in the Toys, Games and Hobby Products Design category, A' Design Award & Competition has announced. The result belongs to the 2021 - 2022 A' Design Award & Competition and was decided through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who assessed anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
The A' Design Award Explained
The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.
About Choppy Wooden Balance Bike for Kids
Made for kids up to 4 years of age, Choppy has an innovative and handsome design. The pedal-less bike can be assembled as a construction game or building blocks without using any tools. Seat and handlebars can be easily adjusted to the height of the young rider. The springy seat is specially designed to protect the child's back. The ultra-light bike doesn't have the standard metal bearings nor even a single screw. The bike can be dismantled, packed neatly in the compact box, and stored in the car's trunk or even the back seat.
About Aldis Blicsons
Architect Designer Entrepreneur Music journalist Radio personality
Award Record
Aldis Blicsons is a winner of 1 A' Design Award, including this recognition.
About the A' Toys, Games and Hobby Products Design Award
The A' Toy Design Award is an international toy design competition recognizing good toy designs by best toy designers, manufacturers and brands worldwide. The competition is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to toy designers, game studios, industrial designers and hobby product manufacturers from all countries. Entries typically include dolls, action figures, board games, puzzles, plush toys and educational toys. Awarded toy designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/toy
About A' Design Award & Competition
A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade organized annually since 2008. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The A' Design Award has a philanthropic mission to advance society through good design by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Entries are peer reviewed and anonymously evaluated by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. The A' Design Prize granted to eligible laureates includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, the upload of a work and the preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. Further information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://dezigners.org/131024
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/131024
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!131024
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/317567
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://www.facebook.com/Choppy.bike
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Choppy Wooden Balance Bike for Kids
- Function
- Wooden Balance Bike for Kids
- Category
- Toys, Games and Hobby Products Design
- Discipline
- Industrial Design
- Industry
- Kids
- Colors
- Tan, Gainsboro, Gray, Dark Gray and Rosy Brown
- Images
- 5
- Client
- STUM Inc.
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Aldis Blicsons
- Country
- Latvia
- Recognition
- A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2021 - 2022
- Design ID
- #131024
Credits
- Team
- Toms Grinbergs and Gatis Grandans
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- Choppy has an innovative and handsome design and is made for kids up to 4 years of age. It can be assembled as a construction game or building blocks without using any tools. Seat and handlebars can be easily adjusted to the height of the young rider. The springy bike seat protects the child’s back. The bike doesn’t have the standard metal bearings and not even a single screw, making it ultra-light. The inside of the box can be removed and used as a board game.
- Inspiration
- For Choppy’s designer and engineer team, this balance bike was the logical next step after their previous project - the Brum Brum Bike that received several awards for its appealing design and original packaging. Finally, they wondered if it was possible to create a sustainable product and one that could be assembled without tools. The packaging box is made out of FSC certified cardboard and put together without glue.
- Research
- For Choppy’s designer and engineer team, this balance bike was the logical next step after their previous project - the Brum Brum Bike that received several awards for its appealing design and original packaging. After Brum Brum Bike’s success, designers continued experimenting with different technical aspects, e.g., making the bike lighter. They wanted to create an innovative balance bike that could be adjusted to the height of very young children. Finally, they wondered if it was possible to create a sustainable product and one that could be assembled without tools. So, Choppy was born, embodying all these ideas and so much more. We worked on the Choppy design for several years.
- Challenge
- We were striving to make the kid’s balance bike as nature-friendly and sustainable as possible. That’s why the primary material of Choppy is wood — veneered birch plywood. Choppy is 100% manufactured in Latvia (one of the greenest countries in Europe) to avoid unsustainable long-distance transportation of materials. Premium quality Latvian birch plywood makes up two-thirds of Choppy’s components. In addition to wood, the bike’s construction features different polymer composites and very little metal. Choppy’s packaging deserves a special mention - the box doubles as a board game having an inlet with an adventure track printed on it.
- Realization and Technology
- Balance bike Choppy is the second product of an enthusiastic and friendly design and engineering team. After the success of our first balance bike - the award-winning Brum Brum Bike - we took up the challenge to make our next bike lighter, more nature-friendly, comfortable, and better suited for kids up to 4 years of age. We worked on the Choppy design for several years. We involved the RTU Design Factory innovation workshop in creating several prototypes until we found the ideal design and functionality. Several experienced Latvian manufacturers participated in finding the best materials, developing technical solutions, and creating the perfect packaging.
- Operation and Interaction
- The balance bike features an innovative design without a single screw. Any adult can assemble the Choppy bike and adjust its height without using any tools. Moms will enjoy how easy it is to put the bike together, while dads or big brothers will find the assembly simpler than putting together Ikea furniture. Choppy is a great travel buddy, too, because it’s so handy to bring along on any family trip. The bike can be dismantled, packed neatly in the compact box, and stored in the car’s trunk or even the back seat. When you arrive at your destination, you can quickly assemble it and ride into new adventures.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project started in May 2016 and finished in September 2021 in Riga, Latvia.
- Specifications
- Choppy: 750 mm x 350 mm x 460-470 mm Choppy box: 590 mm x 40 mm x 490 mm
- Keywords
- Choppy, bike, Choppybike, lightweight, children, wooden, balance, plywood, Latvia, sustainability, toddlers
