The Slinky, iconic creation and beloved toy of millions, is exploding into the 21st century this week with a brand new Kickstarter campaign that puts a thoroughly modern spin on the classic gadget. The Never Ending Slinky Machine – Project NESM for short – offers a dynamic new take on everyone’s favourite childhood plaything, placing any Slinky on a carefully designed unit to create a perpetual motion machine that will have children and adults alike transfixed.
The Kickstarter campaign has now launched to help put Project NESM into full production. With elegant and accurate prototypes already impressing backers across the world, those who back the campaign could find themselves the proud owner of a NESM later this year. Two shipments of the product will take place – one in September, one in November, which means they’ll be in backers’ hands in time to give someone an incredibly cool Christmas gift!
Project NESM is the brainchild of an ambitious team of UK designers, who wanted to create a standalone piece of contemporary art for the modern office, which was also fun for kids and a great thing to have around the home. The constantly moving Slinky aims to provide a momentary distraction for those recurring moments of everyday boredom, as well as a beautifully crafted object that breathes new life into a vintage toy.
Using custom made components, the team at Creatables Labs developed a formula that would turn a Slinky into an unending motion machine. Like watching a traditional Slinky tumble down an infinite staircase, the NESM is mesmerizing, relaxing, thrilling and aesthetically beautiful rolled into one – and it’s set to be the must-have office gadget for 2014.
Craig McCormack, Founder of Creatables Labs, says, “Everyone loves a toy that they can interact with, control or simply get lost in its motions – I think that’s why everyone has owned a Slinky at some point in their life. Some of the best ideas I’ve had come from playing with a Slinky, and we’ve set out to create a fantastic desktop gadget or toy that will distract the eyes while the brain’s cogs whirr and turn in the background.”
Meticulously crafted from the latest aluminium composite for the body and the internal structure, the NESM could be considered a real feat of modern engineering. Classic Slinky toys were renowned as fun, vibrant and unique objects that could withstand anything kids threw at them – the NESM has taken these existing features and become a work of art, with three beautiful finishes to choose from, custom-made rollers, a silent running motor and stainless fastenings.
Those who pledge early, from just £30 will get their hands on a NESM in September which also includes an original Slinky, while a pledge of £60 will see the backer given a brushed stainless steel or gold NESM, complete with serial number – sure to become a collector’s item in years to come.
To find out more about Creatables Labs Project NESM and their Kickstarter campaign, visit: www.kickstarter.com
