The greatest challenges surfaced while printing the physical HigbyTM product on Wolff Olins’ desktop 3D printers. With just one MakerBot in our New York office and the other in our London office, we had to manage our efforts as a global team.

We also had to ensure that the physical HigbyTM pieces properly represented the digital version of HigbyTM featured in our email greeting card and film.

While a difficult process, the 3D printing was the very core that enabled HigbyTM to happen.

Our initial idea was simple. We wanted to find a way we could wish our clients and contacts a happy holiday season.

From there the project became about creating a prop to help form a discussion around the pervasiveness of technology in our lives. HigbyTM tackles a societal insecurity with so much positivity that we wanted people to not just relate to the message, but to act on it.

Most of all, Wolff Olins hoped HigbyTM would help people make the most of their time with friends and family when it’s most important.

We loved the idea of manifesting the concept of HigbyTM into a physical show of affection between two phones.

We wanted to keep it positive and shift the focus to what the holidays are supposed to be about - being with loved ones. Making this smiley-faced little guy and spirited world around him helped us capture that important human and positive energy of the holiday season.

We arrived at our final design by acknowledging that we wanted to produce something special that was also central to all of the experiences Wolff Olins creates.

HigbyTM was well received by the creative community and received numerous accolades in the press with features in publications like Fast Company and Cool Hunting. The Huffington Post even selected HigbyTM as one of its ‘best tools’ to help stay focused and present.

Wolff Olins also encountered an overwhelming demand by both consumers worldwide and former and current clients alike.

HigbyTM’s sentiment undoubtedly resonated with people, sparked demand for the product, and was a fun entry point to talking about a more thoughtful and important issue.