Great Wave

Mechanical Toy

One Semester Solo Project

2019

A toy kit for all ages that teaches basic mechanics with paint-by-number pieces for emotional attachment.

What is a mechanical toy?

A toy powered by the user rather than electricity, typically through a crank mechanism. 

An expensive mechanical product would be a cuckoo clock, while this Great Wave toy would be inexpensive.

Why the Great Wave print?

I wanted to bring a story to life. Whether it be a famous story, quote, or painting, I felt that a toy would be the vessel to experience your favorite paintings.

The Wave is one of the most iconic woodblock prints of all time, and the motion of a wave could be replicated with a camshaft.

Appearance Model

I painted this non-functional model to show what the user could achieve with just five acrylic paints.

Mechanical Model

This functional mechanical model has one camshaft with four cams, each of which drives one wave. Meant to be beginner-friendly; no prior knowledge of mechanisms is required to assemble the kit.

Art comes to life

This shadowbox-style toy can sit on a dresser or be mounted to a wall for an interactive piece of art. Since the user finishes it themselves, it will have a longer product life cycle.

Let's work, together.

© Carson Webb 2021