Find at least one toy/game designer from your local community who make by their own hands. What kind of techniques and materials do they use? Have these materials evolved over time?
Chenrui Yu I believe is one of the craftsmen who can not only make delicate pieces but also embed their unique humor in their work. I met Chenrui Yu at TEDxChengdu where I have been working for 4 years and he was once a speaker of our TEDxKids event.
Though wooden automata this type of work isn't a popular stream in current toy industry, the idea of self-operating machine can date back to the Hellenistic period of Greece. Other than toys, we can also see automata in many different places, such as mechanical watches, Japanese sacrificial dolls, and Chinese guide chariots. In order to make an automata function properly, the creator has to take physics, mathematics, and mechanics all into account. The "organic" complexity is exactly where the beauty of mechanical engineering comes.
To some extend, a wooden automata piece seems like a playable 3D animation that has the capability to convey an idea through a dramatic scene. So most of Yu's work comes from his own observation about everyday life, which he believes can possibly resonate with others.
Here are some of his work:
Farewell
Romance In The Wind
No Making Without Breaking
