Set of tools/construction toy, Explore, Makedo, designed 2010, manufactured 2017-2020

Child's toolset and original packaging. The set consists of a saw, screwdriver, two additional tools, 40 short screws and 14 long screws.

The Safe-Saw Jnr has a yellow plastic handle, into which is fastened a short, serrated plastic blade made from pink plastic. There is a pointed punch at the end of the handle.

The Scru-Driver also has a yellow plastic handle, into which is inserted a grey screwdriver with a hexagonal socket. There is a pointed punch at the end of the handle.

The two Mini-Tools are yellow plastic rings. They are essentially more basic screwdrivers, featuring a hexagonal socket and a punch.

Both types of screw are simple, with a hexagonal head over which the screwdriver fits. They are made from bright blue plastic.

The inner packaging also acts as a toolbox or trug, it is made from folded corrugated cardboard and has two handles at the top for carrying. The outer packaging sleeve is printed with instructions and information about the manufacturer and the set.

The philosophy of Makedo, a children’s construction system designed by the Melbourne-based studio of the same name, can be summarised as Find, Make, Play, Learn, Inspire. Its design was a response, by director Paul Justin, to his own children’s requests for him to make play props such as shields, helmets and a castle with a working drawbridge. As a solution, he decided to develop a set of simple, reusable tools which could be used to safely support their imaginations, and empower them to independently manifest them in the real world. Prior to Makedo, Justin had become disillusioned with product design after attending the Milan Furniture Fair, where he concluded fashion had become a main driving force within the field of practice. He also sensed a lack of real appetite in the industry for developing truly sustainable products.

The basic idea of Makedo is to utilise tools to join together pieces of corrugated cardboard to make custom constructions. As of 2021, kits consist of just six elements: a saw, a screwdriver, a roller for making folds, long screws, short screws, and a simple, multipurpose mini tool which mirrors the functions of the screwdriver. Each hand tool is also equipped with a punch to make screw-holes. A number of other parts, such as hinges, brackets and adaptors for connecting to other construction toys, are freely available for 3D printing.[4] An online Makedo Hub encourages builders to submit images of their creations.

Makedo has won a number of design awards. Most of them positively cited the open-ended nature of the play enabled by the product, as well as the sense of responsibility and independence that it fosters in its young users.

This 50 piece set contains an additional Mini-Tool, four Scrus and two Scru XLs.

B.7:1 to 60-2022