Play is a free, explorative and iterative process to discover new meaning and is an important element for innovation. It is through unstructured, free and open-ended play that children can develop their own creativity and interests. However, today’s parents are increasingly underestimating the value of play while prioritising more structured activities and academic performance, a trend which is causing an increase in mental health issues in today’s youth.

We believe strongly in the value of children’s self-led play and that technology has the potential to elevate it to new heights. This is why we created Knotty, an intuitive and fun tool for children to explore and apply technology in a way that enhances their open-ended play and leverages their creativity.

However, just as the rise of the first photographic machine in the early 19th century freed painters from realism and paved the way for the Impressionist movement represented by Monet and Van Gogh, history has shown us that whenever a new technology emerges that can replace human acts of expression, people have found ways to deviate and create unique forms of expression that cannot be replicated by that technology. This pattern of imitation and deviation has been a driving force in the evolution of both technology and expression.

Knotty consists of six input and output blocks, which when joined together creates an array of amusing functions. Connecting blocks is simple and intuitive: just tie a knot from the input to the output using Knotty’s special rope and you’re all set! Make a magic wand from a shake-sensor block and a motor block, or connect a microphone block and an LED block to create a sound-triggered blaster gun! With Knotty’s intuitive and craft-like design, creating, iterating and playing with technology is effortless and instinctive.

With craftyness in mind, Knotty is designed to combine with and adapt to other materials. Stick paper on it, use the velcro straps to join it to bottles or attach it on your wrist to make a wearable! With Knotty, the creativity keeps on flowing.