Press Release
Cuboro Wave Marble Run by Sebastian Etter Receives the Golden A' Design Award in Toys, Games and Hobby Products Design
The international grand jury of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition recognizes Sebastian Etter for toys, games and hobby products design
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 16, 2026 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the Golden A' Design Award in the Toys, Games and Hobby Products Design category for Cuboro Wave Marble Run by Sebastian Etter, designed for Cuboro AG. The result belongs to the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition and was reached 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 Golden A' Design Award Explained
The Gold A' Design Award is granted to designs that demonstrate a high level of innovation and a significant impact on their intended audience. Recognized as a major achievement by the A' Design Awards, these designs are characterized by their visionary approach and the exceptional skill of their creators. Winners of the Gold A' Design Award are noted for their ability to push the envelope in art, science, design, and technology, delivering solutions that not only meet but exceed expectations. These designs serve as benchmarks for excellence, encouraging further innovation and inspiring future generations of designers.
More About Cuboro Wave Marble Run
Cuboro Wave expands the modular marble run system with wave-shaped elements that set marbles into rhythmic up and down motion. The reduced geometric design combines aesthetics with function, offering intuitive play for children and adults alike. Sustainably produced from Swiss Wood certified beech, the durable elements fit seamlessly with existing Cuboro sets. Wave introduces a new dimension of play that stimulates creativity, concentration and spatial imagination while ensuring lasting educational and emotional value.
About Sebastian Etter
Cuboro AG is a Swiss family business based in Bern, dedicated to creating the high-quality wooden marble run system CUBORO. Since its invention by Matthias Etter in the 1980s, the company has developed a unique modular design made from Swiss beechwood, certified with the Swiss Wood label. Under the leadership of CEO Sebastian Etter, Cuboro continues to innovate with new sets such as WAVE, while maintaining a strong commitment to sustainability, education, and social responsibility. CUBORO inspires creativity, concentration, and logical thinking across generations worldwide.
Award Record
This recognition makes Sebastian Etter a winner of 1 A' Design Award.
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/176533
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/176533
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!176533
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/373631
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://cuboro.ch/en/marble-runs/wave/
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
- Cuboro Wave Marble Run
- Function
- Marble Run
- Category
- Toys, Games and Hobby Products Design
- Discipline
- Industrial Design
- Industry
- Kids
- Colors
- Dark Turquoise, Light Sea Green, Lavender, Silver and Light Gray
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Cuboro AG
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Sebastian Etter
- Country
- Switzerland
- Recognition
- Golden A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2025 - 2026
- Design ID
- #176533
Credits
- Image Credits
- Photographer / Creator Cuboro AG, CUBORO Wave open packaging with contents, 2025.; Photographer / Creator Cuboro AG, CUBORO Wave marble run, 2025.; Photographer / Creator Cuboro AG, CUBORO Wave closed packaging design, 2025.; Photographer / Creator Cuboro AG, CUBORO Wave track from above, 2025.; Photographer / Creator Cuboro AG, CUBORO Wave play situation with two children, 2025. Video Credits: Creator Cuboro AG, CUBORO Wave product video, 2025.
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- Cuboro Wave is the Extra Set for dynamic, flowing runs. Specially crafted wave elements guide marbles in smooth up and down motions before they roll onto the next level. The clear design unites aesthetics and function, fitting seamlessly into the modular Cuboro system. Sustainably produced in Switzerland from Swiss Wood certified beech, Wave enriches the Starter Sets with new dynamics, unique effects, and enduring play value.
- Inspiration
- The inspiration for Cuboro Wave originated while sailing across gentle waves, where the smooth and rhythmic motion suggested the idea of translating this natural flow into a marble run system. The objective was to embody this dynamic energy within the Cuboro system, uniting Swiss precision with the rhythm of nature while at the same time introducing a new dimension of play that encourages users to discover novel movement patterns, explore creative strategies, and experience the element of surprise.
- Research
- Research Type: Applied design research. Objective: Expand Cuboro with dynamic, visually engaging elements. Methodology: Iterative design, prototyping, testing. Tools: Sketches, CAD models, 3D prototypes. Participants: Designer, joinery partners, children as test players. Results: Wave-shaped track elements. Insights: New dimension of play, stronger brand identity. Impact: Enhances education, creativity, and market visibility.
- Challenge
- The greatest challenge in developing Cuboro Wave was to transform the natural motion of water into precise wooden elements that function reliably within the modular system. Designing curves that both guide marbles smoothly and fit seamlessly with existing cubes required extensive prototyping. Limited by wood properties and production tolerances, the team overcame obstacles through iterative testing and close collaboration with skilled joiners.
- Realization and Technology
- Cuboro Wave is crafted from untreated, Swiss Wood certified beech, air-dried and precision-milled to ensure perfect fit and smooth play. Produced entirely in Switzerland under the highest safety and quality standards, the robust elements embody durability, sustainability, and timeless design. Part of the Cuboro system since 1986, Wave continues the tradition of combining natural materials with precision engineering.
- Operation and Interaction
- Cuboro Wave is an add-on set that lets marbles glide up and down in smooth wave motions before continuing onto the next level. Players combine the wave elements with existing Cuboro cubes to create endless new tracks. The flowing movement adds surprise and excitement, inviting children and adults alike to experiment, adjust, and discover new possibilities in every run.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project started in April 2024 in Bern, Switzerland, and was completed in June 2025 with the official launch of Cuboro Wave. It was publicly presented in July 2025 at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, within the Swiss Pavilion.
- Specifications
- Dimensions: 230 x 230 x 57 mm, Weight: 1.55 kg. The set contains 22 elements, crafted from Swiss Wood certified beech. All Cuboro elements are produced in Switzerland, including the packaging. The hand-folded box is highly robust and provides safe, dry storage, protecting the elements from moisture.
- Keywords
- Marble run, Wooden toy, Swiss design, Creative play, Educational toy, Minimalist design, Precision craftsmanship, Modular construction, Sustainable Swiss wood, Timeless toy
