The Free Universal Construction Kit, created by Levin and collaborator Shawn Sims, will appear in the new exhibition celebrating design’s transformative impact.
The Museum of Modern Art’s upcoming exhibition, “Pirouette: Turning Points in Design” curated by Paola Antonelli, will include the Free Universal Construction Kit, a collaborative work by Professor Golan Levin and CMU alumnus Shawn Sims. On view from January 26 to October 18, 2025, the exhibition explores design as a catalyst for change, featuring objects that redefined norms and spurred innovation.
The Free Universal Construction Kit is a matrix of 3D-printable adapters that enable complete interoperability between ten popular children’s construction toys. By allowing any piece to join to any other, the Kit encourages totally new forms of intercourse between otherwise closed systems. Provoking dialogue about intellectual property, open-source culture, and the potential of reverse engineering, the Kit is designed to foster creativity and collaboration.