Zaks is a construction toy originally produced in Canada by the company Irwin Toy in 1987 and released in the United States by Ohio Art Company in 1988. The toy is a system of multicolored flat plastic triangle and square pieces that interlock via snap lock hinges along their edges, creating moveable structures. The toy includes additional pieces such as columnar joint attachments, push-in eyes, clear bubbles, cones, and antennae. Overview Zaks consists primarily of equilateral triangles and squares with toothed, hinged, and interlocking edges. The basic triangle and square shapes are further modified by having a number of different face styles, including holes or extended sockets that allow them to connect face-to-face. The toys can be attached to one another to build three-dimensional creations, with the edges either remaining rigid or being allowed to swivel. It is quite easy to create Platonic solids using Zaks, and the toys are useful to demonstrate how simple planes like triangles and squares can be used to create complex polyhedra. Since the pieces primarily connect with hinges, building a rigid structure takes some work, either by clever geometry or socketing together smaller polyhedra. Conception Zaks (an acronym for Ziegler's Animated Konstruction System) was invented by Calgary designer Jim Ziegler. Ziegler's initial inspiration for Zaks came from visiting Expo 67 and walking through the American pavilion, a geodesic dome designed by Buckminster Fuller, and from Fuller's book Utopia or Oblivion. In Ziegler's words, "Fuller had a conviction that understanding triangulated geometry would be essential to man's success, because that's the most efficient way to build. My reasoning was that for people to accept that idea, they needed to have it in their hands and just play with it." Ziegler had the idea for Zaks in 1982, while making a wooden jewelry box for his wife. He came up with 85% of the invention over two weeks. Over 18 months, he invested $70,000, half of it his own money, while working on the prototype as a hobby. He approached Irwin Toy, who were looking for a Canadian-designed toy that they could market globally. Irwin kept the toy's development secret due to its innovative quality and commercial potential; according to Irwin Toy vice-president George Irwin, "Only three or four people in the company knew about Zaks". The toy was named in October, 1986 and unveiled to retailers in January 1987. Release Zaks was released in Canada