Contender for Toy of the Year 2017: Arckit's modelling system builds a new fan following
ARCKIT is a new modelling system designed for architects but with legions of young fans too, has now been shortlisted for 2017’s hotly contested Toy of the Year, the industry’s Oscars.
Inventor Damien Murtagh, whose business is based in the UK and Ireland, started two years ago supplying practices with the reusable kits which mirror modern buildings modular, panel construction. Then by accident his products became the toast of toy town and sold in major stores such as Harrods.
“We exhibited the kits at Grand Designs Live building show, children loved them and we got orders from parents. I realised here was a new market I’d not considered. They are the generation who have grown up with Minecraft and think building is cool,” he explains.
“We produced a smaller colour kit as children don’t like plain white. Now we have 11 kit versions in our range and customers from 10 years old to over 100 in Britain, Europe and the U.S.
“Our more sophisticated kits are used by practices and they form part of schools and colleges design and technology courses. To keep up the momentum we hold workshops and summer camps and customers can also go online and build.”
They are the generation who have grown up with Minecraft and think building is cool
The company has one main private investor, and Murtagh forecasts turnover to top £1 million by 2020.
An architect himself, he devised Arckit to bridge a gap in the time-consuming and expensive modelling stage of a design brief.
He adds: “Contemporary societies no longer build brick by brick, now it’s panel by panel. Traditionally models were made of card and glue. Computer modelling replaced that but it needs imagination and lacks the hands-on, true 3D physical element.
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“Our recycled plastic components click together and open up a world of possibilities for architecture and precision modelling, you don’t need a formal education either to use them.
“We’ve introduced embellishments, such as wooden floors, curved walls and textures for the panels to make it as realistic as possible. What used to take architects day to build we can do in 30 minutes.
“I’m now getting inquiries from the medical sector who see the therapeutic potential. I would like to introduce Arckits to prisons to help inmates develop new skills and bring projects to life. Creating something with purpose is very important."