Kendamama – The Toy For Big Boys (Student Project)

Designer: Huei-Tai Chen
Project Type: Student Project
School: Pratt Institute
Course: Packaging Design
Tutor: Barry Burger
Location: Student Project
Packaging Contents: Toy
Packaging Substrate / Materials: Plastic, Wood
Printing Process: Laser Cut

Kendama is a traditional Japanese toy. The ken has three cups and a spike which fits into the hole in the ball.

Kendama bears similarities to the classic cup-and-ball game, and the Hispanic world toy known as boliche or balero. The principle of these toys are the same: catching one object with another, where both are joined by a string. However the modern kendama style takes influences from a diverse range of skills including yo-yo, diabolo, juggling and dance.

What’s Unique?
This packaging tried to represent the “Floating Moment” that just before the ball meet the ken. To make more people see this moment is a crucial attempt to let them understand the magic of this traditional toy.