Dear MATRIX [LAB] community members,
Tools and Toys was originally created with a clear vision: to design product go beyond functionality, speaking directly from the heart. This commitment has evolved into the core value of MATRIX [LAB], where we continue to blend purpose and emotion in every creation.
We are dedicated to transforming our kit products from merely tools into vibrant experience, infusing them with meaning to foster deep, personal connections. Our goal is to empower users to discover moments of joy, whether they are working or gaming, through every interaction with our products. From the spontaneous idea of a small Christmas hat during the 2018 Christmas season to the 6XV1.0 Tetris in 2019, ABELX, and bolder attempts like blind boxes - MR.Santa, as well as the later iM+ XMAS, Meta, 8/6XV3.0 MAGIC3, Navi, FAUKWAA MR.HAT, MRTAXI, and more, we have infused innovative features into our designs. This includes Vita, which was the first customizable kit to use a color screen, and the standard-sized replaceable badge that began with the 8XV2.0. In defining our products, flexibility and replaceability are simply actions and behaviors; our goal is to enable users to personalize their tools by infusing them with their preferred content and elements, building a deeper connection with input devices. Aesthetic appeal is secondary —what truly matters is that users develop a genuine bond with what they engage. We all hope that the things we cherish can be omnipresent.
However, our previous products have not been clearly categorized along specific dimensions, resulting a mixture of types and styles that can be overwhelming for new users and even confusing us. To address this, much like the bold character of FAUKWAA, we plan to beginning with the PLATO series and gradually refine and categorize select product types under a new brand: TOLNTOY (TNT or T&T). This brand will emphasize designs that convey warmth, incorporating lightweight humanistic, social and natural elements.
We have rarely elaborated on the setting and design philosophy of each product, not out of arrogance or ignorance, but perhaps out of a fear of being misunderstood—a fate that comes with being a creator. Instead, we chose to let the world be the world, content within my own cocoon. In summary, MATRIX [LAB] has faced numerous challenges to reach where we are today. While we continue to grow, we are truly grateful for the recognition, support and understanding we have received along the way.
What we possess is not a limitation; every past experience is a prologue to what’s yet to come. Let’s inspire each other, and I wish everyone a Happy New Year filled with health and success!
Regarding the PLATO Series: The PLATO Series is a collection of products with the same design style and corner aesthetics (including different layouts and thematic design elements).
For this release, we have:
PLATO [ PROLOGUE ] 75% layout PLATO [ CHAPTER ONE ] Numpad
Cherry Pink by 沃利momo
Melon Green by 樱木花豆