How big is 12 m² really? Or how high is 2.50 meters? Our brains often find it difficult to imagine such dimensions – until we experience them in practice. This is exactly where Xbrick comes into play: As a lightweight and stackable module, Xbrick helps to understand room sizes, distances and volumes in a playful and haptic way. For children, young people and adults in particular, the perception of space is reinforced through practical interaction. And Xbrick can help with this: The element combines intuitive learning with movement, haptic interaction and even digital extensions.
An understanding of proportions is essential – whether in architecture, design, learning at school or simply in everyday life. Studies show that simply looking at numbers and measurements is often not enough to develop a real sense of space and volume. Rather, we need a physical experience to really grasp these concepts. Xbrick can make a low-threshold contribution here: the building blocks are designed in such a way that they can be can be intuitively stacked, moved and combined to make lengths, heights and depths a real experience.
Learning doesn’t just take place in the head – our whole body is involved. This insight comes from the theory of Embodied Cognition. According to the study by Wilson (2002), our brain can process spatial concepts such as heights, widths and depths better when we actively experience them. This is exactly where Xbrick fits in:
Xbrick offers many advantages for learning and application areas in which better spatial perception can be an advantage. Here are some of the most exciting applications:
For architecture students, the implementation of theoretical concepts in practice is one of the biggest challenges. The abstraction of room dimensions and their effects on the design are often difficult to grasp. Xbrick offers a real solution for transforming this abstract knowledge into a tangible, tangible form. How? Students can use Xbrick to experience the size ratios of a room directly in the room. Instead of just analyzing theoretical models or working with scales and plans, they can experience the dimensions of a space spatially and haptically. This physical interaction helps to develop a perceptual understanding of space.
Xbrick enables students to directly simulate and recreate the spatial effect and volume of architectural models. If a room is 12 m² in theory, they can use Xbrick to recreate it to scale in the real world. This haptic experience helps to deepen the understanding of room sizes, proportions and the effect of space in architecture. Students can put sketches and drawings of architectural models into practice with Xbrick and experience how room sizes and dimensions feel in real space. By directly stacking and moving the Xbrick elements, they can practically understand how the dimensions of a room affect the overall feeling – be it a room of 12 m² or a height of 2.50 m. This three-dimensional, physical experience reinforces spatial thinking and enables a deeper exploration of architectural concepts.
Here is the matching project example.
Children and young people are particularly dependent on physical interaction in their learning process in order to develop a deep understanding of their environment. Spatial perception plays a central role here. Xbrick is a fun way for them to explore measurements, volumes and dimensions for themselves. Instead of just hearing abstract numbers or seeing them in pictures, they can experience what sizes feel like in space by stacking and combining Xbricks.
Xbrick enables children to understand the principles of volume and scale in a simple and playful way. They can experiment with size relationships and build their own constructions to experience size and scale.
A particularly popular game with Xbrick: children build the size and volume of familiar objects such as a car, a cow or even a blue whale. This practical application enables children to not only theoretically understand the dimensions of these objects, but also visually and haptically grasp them. In doing so, they experience in a playful way how different dimensions and scales relate to each other and what it means to work with space and volume. This not only promotes spatial thinking, but also creativity and problem-solving skills. Of course, everything described can also be done with other elements, such as tables, chairs, boxes and cartons.
With Xbrick, things get a little easier. Xbricks are so light that any child can carry them. They can be stacked precisely in any position without slipping. And if something falls over, there is no risk of injury, no scratches, no noise.
To complement the physical gaming experience with digital elements, there is the Xplore app. It works with augmented reality and image recognition to make learning even more interactive. This combination of haptic experience and digital extensions stimulates the understanding of space and proportions in a playful, interactive way. With the Xplore app you can:
Find out more about the Xplore app here:
Why do we think this is so important? In our experience, everyone loves building with Xbrick – not just children. We have added a game version to the great imaginative structures that are created in the process via the digital extension.
There are already several AR applications. Xbrick combines AR with movement and actual proportions. The combination of haptic learning with digital technologies is a decisive step forward for interactive educational approaches. Xbrick thus becomes a highly flexible learning and play module for a wide range of age groups.
But of course that’s not all – in addition to learning, Xbrick offers another clear advantage: When not playing or experimenting, Xbrick still has a simple yet irrefutable purpose: as a piece of furniture. Whether seating, table or modular system – Xbrick is light, stable and versatile. The modular design allows creative furniture structures to be built that adapt to changing needs.
Xbrick® combines haptic learning, spatial perception and digital extensions in an innovative approach for children, students and adults. It offers a unique opportunity to not only grasp space and dimensions theoretically, but to really experience them. The intuitive handling, robust construction and versatile application options make Xbrick an ideal tool for education, architecture and play.
The potential of Xbrick is particularly evident in the education sector: children learn through hands-on experimentation, architecture students get a realistic feel for dimensions, and digital technologies such as the Xplore app add an interactive component to the possibilities.
In addition to its learning benefits, Xbrick is an impressive multifunctional piece of furniture – an aspect that can be of great benefit in schools, universities and the private sector alike.
Whether as a learning aid, play equipment or flexible piece of furniture – Xbrick manages to transform abstract concepts into tangible reality. It puts theory into practice, encourages creativity and makes space tangible.
Try it out and discover space in a whole new way!
wd3 GmbH
Seidenstraße 57
70174 Stuttgart
Copyright © wd3 GmbH • 2025 •