Toys are for grown-ups | Michael Kleiss

[Music]

[Music] I’d like to share with you a personal

I’d like to share with you a personal

I’d like to share with you a personal story and it starts when I was very

story and it starts when I was very

story and it starts when I was very young when I saw a movie called The Time

young when I saw a movie called The Time

young when I saw a movie called The Time Machine based on in the HG Wells novel

Machine based on in the HG Wells novel

Machine based on in the HG Wells novel at the end of a movie the main character

at the end of a movie the main character

at the end of a movie the main character George decides to leave his aristocratic

George decides to leave his aristocratic

George decides to leave his aristocratic life and travel through time and he

life and travel through time and he

life and travel through time and he takes with him

takes with him

takes with him some articles from his library his best

some articles from his library his best

some articles from his library his best friend David comes in and he sees the

friend David comes in and he sees the

friend David comes in and he sees the maid telling him four books are missing

maid telling him four books are missing

maid telling him four books are missing from the library and she asked Dave I’m

from the library and she asked Dave I’m

from the library and she asked Dave I’m wondering what books that mr. George

wondering what books that mr. George

wondering what books that mr. George take with him in a typical Hollywood

take with him in a typical Hollywood

take with him in a typical Hollywood fashion David looks at the camera and

fashion David looks at the camera and

fashion David looks at the camera and says the real question would be what

says the real question would be what

says the real question would be what four books would you take now as a child

four books would you take now as a child

four books would you take now as a child I saw the movie I said why would he take

I saw the movie I said why would he take

I saw the movie I said why would he take books of course my mind was in a

books of course my mind was in a

books of course my mind was in a different place at that time

different place at that time

different place at that time and I think at least according to my

and I think at least according to my

and I think at least according to my mother probably still isn’t the same

mother probably still isn’t the same

mother probably still isn’t the same place my first thought was like I will

place my first thought was like I will

place my first thought was like I will not take books I will take with me the

not take books I will take with me the

not take books I will take with me the three things or four of the three things

three things or four of the three things

three things or four of the three things that are more important in my creative

that are more important in my creative

that are more important in my creative work Toys Toys Toys

work Toys Toys Toys

work Toys Toys Toys so I’d like to share with you some of

so I’d like to share with you some of

so I’d like to share with you some of them which I have right here this would

them which I have right here this would

them which I have right here this would be the box that will come with me in

be the box that will come with me in

be the box that will come with me in this journey through time this would be

this journey through time this would be

this journey through time this would be the toys that I would take with me and

the toys that I would take with me and

the toys that I would take with me and the first one is a Rubik’s Cube

I grew up trying to solve the Rubik’s

I grew up trying to solve the Rubik’s Cube and actually I learn a lot of

Cube and actually I learn a lot of

Cube and actually I learn a lot of things from the Rubik’s Cube and the

things from the Rubik’s Cube and the

things from the Rubik’s Cube and the first thing I’d like to say and brag

first thing I’d like to say and brag

first thing I’d like to say and brag about I’m an architect and I teach

about I’m an architect and I teach

about I’m an architect and I teach architecture at Clemson University

architecture at Clemson University

architecture at Clemson University and the Rubik’s Cube was invented by a

and the Rubik’s Cube was invented by a

and the Rubik’s Cube was invented by a colleague of mine amazing right

colleague of mine amazing right

colleague of mine amazing right I just don’t know him he happens to be

I just don’t know him he happens to be

I just don’t know him he happens to be an architecture professor so I think

an architecture professor so I think

an architecture professor so I think there’s still hope for me to make

there’s still hope for me to make

there’s still hope for me to make something that will change the world the

something that will change the world the

something that will change the world the Rubik’s Cube taught me incredible things

Rubik’s Cube taught me incredible things

Rubik’s Cube taught me incredible things but the first one that I learned from

but the first one that I learned from

but the first one that I learned from this little contraption is I learned

this little contraption is I learned

this little contraption is I learned patience and I lose perseverance you see

patience and I lose perseverance you see

patience and I lose perseverance you see it took me 14 years to solve the Rubik’s

it took me 14 years to solve the Rubik’s

it took me 14 years to solve the Rubik’s Cube for the first time 14 years in the

Cube for the first time 14 years in the

Cube for the first time 14 years in the making I remember sometimes going

making I remember sometimes going

making I remember sometimes going through my drawer looking for things and

through my drawer looking for things and

through my drawer looking for things and there was the cube looking at me so are

there was the cube looking at me so are

there was the cube looking at me so are you gonna try or you’re gonna give up

you gonna try or you’re gonna give up

you gonna try or you’re gonna give up I’m glad I never gave up because he

I’m glad I never gave up because he

I’m glad I never gave up because he taught me the power of persistence but I

taught me the power of persistence but I

taught me the power of persistence but I also learned a few things from the

also learned a few things from the

also learned a few things from the Rubik’s Cube when you are solving the

Rubik’s Cube when you are solving the

Rubik’s Cube when you are solving the rubik’s cube sometimes you have to

rubik’s cube sometimes you have to

rubik’s cube sometimes you have to scramble things that you had already

scramble things that you had already

scramble things that you had already built so sometimes you have to trace

built so sometimes you have to trace

built so sometimes you have to trace your steps back

your steps back

your steps back I also learned from a mistake so

I also learned from a mistake so

I also learned from a mistake so sometimes I made a mistake in the cube

sometimes I made a mistake in the cube

sometimes I made a mistake in the cube and I said well I’ll try it again

and I said well I’ll try it again

and I said well I’ll try it again I also learned that sometimes you have

I also learned that sometimes you have

I also learned that sometimes you have to scramble things to build them back

to scramble things to build them back

to scramble things to build them back again and that you have to trust that

again and that you have to trust that

again and that you have to trust that you can do it the second toy that will

you can do it the second toy that will

you can do it the second toy that will come with me

come with me

come with me in this amazing journey would be a chess

in this amazing journey would be a chess

in this amazing journey would be a chess set

chess this incredible toy that have

chess this incredible toy that have endured history and there’s so many ways

endured history and there’s so many ways

endured history and there’s so many ways to play it my mom taught me how to play

to play it my mom taught me how to play

to play it my mom taught me how to play chess when I was very very young and I

chess when I was very very young and I

chess when I was very very young and I used to play with my best friend but

used to play with my best friend but

used to play with my best friend but there were times where we’ll get a

there were times where we’ll get a

there were times where we’ll get a little bit bored about playing chess and

little bit bored about playing chess and

little bit bored about playing chess and we said why don’t we spice up the rules

we said why don’t we spice up the rules

we said why don’t we spice up the rules a little bit I learned from chess that

a little bit I learned from chess that

a little bit I learned from chess that you can follow the rules and have a

you can follow the rules and have a

you can follow the rules and have a great time but if you change the rules

great time but if you change the rules

great time but if you change the rules some things be spiced up

some things be spiced up

some things be spiced up so for example we used to say well if I

so for example we used to say well if I

so for example we used to say well if I capture two of your pieces I can crown

capture two of your pieces I can crown

capture two of your pieces I can crown upon so somebody I have two queens so

upon so somebody I have two queens so

upon so somebody I have two queens so the game changed a lot every time I

the game changed a lot every time I

the game changed a lot every time I captured a piece because he was in full

captured a piece because he was in full

captured a piece because he was in full defensive mode and I wanted to capture

defensive mode and I wanted to capture

defensive mode and I wanted to capture another one I learned that when you

another one I learned that when you

another one I learned that when you change up things just a little enough

change up things just a little enough

change up things just a little enough great things can happen

great things can happen

great things can happen the ultimate goal was to have fun and he

the ultimate goal was to have fun and he

the ultimate goal was to have fun and he and I did have fun for many many days

and I did have fun for many many days

and I did have fun for many many days and years

another toy that would come with me

another toy that would come with me would be a paper but not any kind of

would be a paper but not any kind of

would be a paper but not any kind of paper yes this is origami paper the

paper yes this is origami paper the

paper yes this is origami paper the beauty about origami is that allow me to

beauty about origami is that allow me to

beauty about origami is that allow me to make any toy that I want and I’m only

make any toy that I want and I’m only

make any toy that I want and I’m only bounded by my imagination so I can make

bounded by my imagination so I can make

bounded by my imagination so I can make things like the most beautiful and

things like the most beautiful and

things like the most beautiful and natural creatures or the most

natural creatures or the most

natural creatures or the most imaginative forms what I learned from

imaginative forms what I learned from

imaginative forms what I learned from origami was or at least this little

origami was or at least this little

origami was or at least this little paper was you don’t add anything you

paper was you don’t add anything you

paper was you don’t add anything you don’t take away anything everything that

don’t take away anything everything that

don’t take away anything everything that you need is there and it’s only your

you need is there and it’s only your

you need is there and it’s only your imagination that is the limits to the

imagination that is the limits to the

imagination that is the limits to the things that you can do but there’s a

things that you can do but there’s a

things that you can do but there’s a little paper

the last toy that would probably come

the last toy that would probably come with me in this journey well I can’t not

with me in this journey well I can’t not

with me in this journey well I can’t not go on a journey time without my lego

go on a journey time without my lego

go on a journey time without my lego sets I mean there’s no way they’re

sets I mean there’s no way they’re

sets I mean there’s no way they’re staying behind I learn incredible things

staying behind I learn incredible things

staying behind I learn incredible things from playing Legos growing up and every

from playing Legos growing up and every

from playing Legos growing up and every time every year that I got one of my

time every year that I got one of my

time every year that I got one of my students who said I became interested in

students who said I became interested in

students who said I became interested in architecture because I used to play with

architecture because I used to play with

architecture because I used to play with Legos when I was a challenge said I did

Legos when I was a challenge said I did

Legos when I was a challenge said I did too sadly the same thing Lego stopped me

too sadly the same thing Lego stopped me

too sadly the same thing Lego stopped me incredible things it taught me that well

incredible things it taught me that well

incredible things it taught me that well you follow instructions you get

you follow instructions you get

you follow instructions you get beautiful things in the box but also you

beautiful things in the box but also you

beautiful things in the box but also you get amazing things when you make it

get amazing things when you make it

get amazing things when you make it you’re on

you’re on

you’re on I learned beautiful things with Legos as

I learned beautiful things with Legos as

I learned beautiful things with Legos as well I learned to share because my best

well I learned to share because my best

well I learned to share because my best friend and I used to get LEGO sets and

friend and I used to get LEGO sets and

friend and I used to get LEGO sets and then we’ll pull them together in a box

then we’ll pull them together in a box

then we’ll pull them together in a box and then we’ll build new things we would

and then we’ll build new things we would

and then we’ll build new things we would negotiate pieces I’d say well you give

negotiate pieces I’d say well you give

negotiate pieces I’d say well you give me this one I’ll give you three of these

me this one I’ll give you three of these

me this one I’ll give you three of these we used to build race cars and then race

we used to build race cars and then race

we used to build race cars and then race them down a board on the stairs and see

them down a board on the stairs and see

them down a board on the stairs and see who would be the strongest one who would

who would be the strongest one who would

who would be the strongest one who would go first and if you lost the race you

go first and if you lost the race you

go first and if you lost the race you had the chance to build it again so

had the chance to build it again so

had the chance to build it again so incredible things about sharing and

incredible things about sharing and

incredible things about sharing and bonding I learned from playing with

bonding I learned from playing with

bonding I learned from playing with Legos Legos actually followed me through

Legos Legos actually followed me through

Legos Legos actually followed me through time until I became an adult although

time until I became an adult although

time until I became an adult although I’m not sure about that I’m still an

I’m not sure about that I’m still an

I’m not sure about that I’m still an adult yet I came across an interesting

adult yet I came across an interesting

adult yet I came across an interesting paper that discussed about how many

paper that discussed about how many

paper that discussed about how many different ways can you combine LEGO

different ways can you combine LEGO

different ways can you combine LEGO pieces this is a result of a story when

pieces this is a result of a story when

pieces this is a result of a story when the son of the founder of Lego went to

the son of the founder of Lego went to

the son of the founder of Lego went to file for a patent and the Patent Office

file for a patent and the Patent Office

file for a patent and the Patent Office er how many different ways can you

er how many different ways can you

er how many different ways can you combine six of these blocks the four by

combine six of these blocks the four by

combine six of these blocks the four by two block well it took them some time to

two block well it took them some time to

two block well it took them some time to come up with the answer that is a little

come up with the answer that is a little

come up with the answer that is a little bit over 102 million different ways that

bit over 102 million different ways that

bit over 102 million different ways that six pieces can be combined what’s

six pieces can be combined what’s

six pieces can be combined what’s interesting is that in 2002 a group of

interesting is that in 2002 a group of

interesting is that in 2002 a group of mathematicians from the University of

mathematicians from the University of

mathematicians from the University of Copenhagen revisited this problem and

Copenhagen revisited this problem and

Copenhagen revisited this problem and found out that the real number is more

found out that the real number is more

found out that the real number is more like 915 million and some change very

like 915 million and some change very

like 915 million and some change very large number

large number

large number so I took upon to see well what can I do

so I took upon to see well what can I do

so I took upon to see well what can I do with these things

with these things

with these things and the first thing we said well how

and the first thing we said well how

and the first thing we said well how many different ways can two of these be

many different ways can two of these be

many different ways can two of these be combined so these are 24 of the initial

combined so these are 24 of the initial

combined so these are 24 of the initial ways that two toys two legal set pieces

ways that two toys two legal set pieces

ways that two toys two legal set pieces can be combined my students were working

can be combined my students were working

can be combined my students were working on this it turns out that if you ignore

on this it turns out that if you ignore

on this it turns out that if you ignore symmetry that number goes up to 46 and

symmetry that number goes up to 46 and

symmetry that number goes up to 46 and if one of these blocks is actually a

if one of these blocks is actually a

if one of these blocks is actually a different color the number doubles so it

different color the number doubles so it

different color the number doubles so it became really interesting as an

became really interesting as an

became really interesting as an architect to find out how many different

architect to find out how many different

architect to find out how many different ways can a good idea be put into

ways can a good idea be put into

ways can a good idea be put into practice I use Legos in my classes so

practice I use Legos in my classes so

practice I use Legos in my classes so I’m still playing with them I have a

I’m still playing with them I have a

I’m still playing with them I have a class that’s called creative play with

class that’s called creative play with

class that’s called creative play with Lego and people say what do you do with

Lego and people say what do you do with

Lego and people say what do you do with it well we come and play with Legos and

it well we come and play with Legos and

it well we come and play with Legos and then we discuss things about creativity

then we discuss things about creativity

then we discuss things about creativity and more important we have fun a couple

and more important we have fun a couple

and more important we have fun a couple weeks ago I had a student visiting our

weeks ago I had a student visiting our

weeks ago I had a student visiting our school and then he came to my class he

school and then he came to my class he

school and then he came to my class he said I can’t believe you play Lego in

said I can’t believe you play Lego in

said I can’t believe you play Lego in college said well not only that you get

college said well not only that you get

college said well not only that you get credit for that so the things that I do

credit for that so the things that I do

credit for that so the things that I do with Lego in my classes go from studying

with Lego in my classes go from studying

with Lego in my classes go from studying architecture looking up models of famous

architecture looking up models of famous

architecture looking up models of famous architects in this case American

architects in this case American

architects in this case American architect Richard Meier we look at

architect Richard Meier we look at

architect Richard Meier we look at elements of scale and proportion we

elements of scale and proportion we

elements of scale and proportion we study formal composition we study

study formal composition we study

study formal composition we study different ways that a same set of rules

different ways that a same set of rules

different ways that a same set of rules can produce a new design we starting

can produce a new design we starting

can produce a new design we starting classical architecture as well and this

classical architecture as well and this

classical architecture as well and this is a new design from a Palladian villas

is a new design from a Palladian villas

is a new design from a Palladian villas from architect from Renaissance and era

from architect from Renaissance and era

from architect from Renaissance and era Palladio we follow the rules and created

Palladio we follow the rules and created

Palladio we follow the rules and created a new design students learn a lot about

a new design students learn a lot about

a new design students learn a lot about that and we look at the details but more

that and we look at the details but more

that and we look at the details but more important we have fun and we learn you

important we have fun and we learn you

important we have fun and we learn you see I believe toys are not only trinkets

see I believe toys are not only trinkets

see I believe toys are not only trinkets for

for

for kate’s but a fundamental for the

kate’s but a fundamental for the

kate’s but a fundamental for the development in our society I cannot

development in our society I cannot

development in our society I cannot conceive a war without toys and that’s

conceive a war without toys and that’s

conceive a war without toys and that’s why everywhere where I go in time a box

Toys are for grown-ups | Michael Kleiss | TEDxCharleston

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