This October, 8th Design Project launched a Kickstarter campaign for a a modern plywood toy car. It is a purposeful design that is easy for small hands to grab and hold, is durable, and is uniquely beautiful.
The Circle Car began as a challenge to create something useful out of waste material being generated from other projects. A CNC machine was being used to cut out large parts – but there were some randomly shaped pieces that were ending up as scrap and ultimately discarded.
Prior to beginning on the design itself, a set of goals emerged to describe what the product needed to be in order for them to move forward: simple, beautiful, functional.
Through the design process, they arrived at a solution that felt unique both in terms of its ability to maximize the material usage and the functionality of the finished product. The circular main body of the car allows for one of the wheels to be cut from the center, while the other two-inch wheels can be cut from small pieces of scrap. The parts of the circle car are created with a CNC machine and then the pieces are finished and assembled by hand with great attention to detail. The result is a collectible piece that can be played with, treasured and displayed.
The goal for the circle car is to eventually be produced exclusively in the United States from the unused material of other CNC produced projects. The fairly small shape – particularly the small circular wheels – can be cut from small sections of plywood that may otherwise be discarded. We hope to establish relationships with several cabinet makers, or other manufacturers who are generating scrap plywood.
In exchange for pledging to the project, supporters can purchase unfinished parts to assemble themselves for $12; or assembled and finished cards for $19.
For more information, visit the Kickstarter page or visit the 8th Design Project website at www.8th.design
