KNUFF: A lovingly designed buddy

People have a deep need for human contact. But what if others aren't around? Researchers have found that cuddling a soft toy can calm the nervous system and positively affect the mental health of adults.

‘KNUFF’ is a lovingly designed buddy for adults who might initially think they have outgrown stuffed toys. Its abstract design evokes playfulness and imagination, or simply invites for an embrace. By giving ‘KNUFF’ a sleek and minimalistic shape, Denise Huigen aims to appeal to adults, and therefore contributes to the normalisation of using a cuddly toy.

KNUFF will be locally produced in a social workspace in the Netherlands. The attention, interaction and love that 'KNUFF' receives from its maker and its users eventually provide the inanimate material with a soul.