Puzzles come in many shapes and sizes.

There are four-piece puzzles for toddlers, those with more than 6,000 pieces to tackle as a team or for the more advanced puzzler, and everything between.

They come in difficult patterns, all one colour, clear, unexpected shapes and with no borders.

Generally, however, a puzzler finds some calm in the sorting, seeking and placing 含羞草研究社� with a defined image as the goal.

A Victoria toymaker含羞草研究社檚 new puzzle, Contra, however, is different. Technically has no solution, or endless solutions, depending on perspective.

This new anti-puzzle resembles its conventional counterpart, but with 1,125 pieces in five solid colours, no set image to strive for and all the interior pieces are identical in shape, allowing them to be fit together in endless configurations.

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While it may sound more frustrating than soothing, it opens outlets of creativity while offering the peaceful motions of a traditional jigsaw, said creator Matt Hiebert of Aroundsquare.

含羞草研究社淵ou can sit around with people and do it together and it含羞草研究社檚 a bit of a social pressure valve. You含羞草研究社檙e not obligated to be talking, talking talking, you can just relax and be together,含羞草研究社� Hiebert said.

A toy designer for 20 years, the newest creation brings a taste of Hiebert含羞草研究社檚 early days when he developed unusually-shaped wooden blocks for users to build unexpected sculptures.

含羞草研究社淭hese were decidedly 含羞草研究社榶ou含羞草研究社檙e not building anything that resembles anything含羞草研究社� 含羞草研究社� it含羞草研究社檚 just the joy of open-ended building,含羞草研究社� Hiebert said.

The twist introduces similar opportunities for puzzle-builders to create their own works of art within the structure of the jigsaw medium.

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If someone starts with a blank paper to make a picture the options are perhaps too endless, but given a few constraints, such as using straight lines and only three colours, the parameters give way to richer ideas of a similar flavour, he explained.

含羞草研究社淚 started to realize that creativity can be facilitated when you have a structure you含羞草研究社檙e building within. 含羞草研究社� It含羞草研究社檚 an enriching experience.含羞草研究社�

It also levels the playing field between those who excel at puzzles and those who don含羞草研究社檛. Hiebert said his youngest, who is four, spent hours putting pieces together this winter.

含羞草研究社淏ecause they can fit together in any arrangement there含羞草研究社檚 no frustration,含羞草研究社� he explained.

Contra is a veer away from the small metal skill toys they含羞草研究社檝e been developing the last few years.

In recent years, Aroundsquare含羞草研究社檚 focus is on playable art objects that blur the lines between jewelry, mindfulness tools, personal accessories, and creative skill toys. Past releases include a solid platinum knucklebone skill toy, as well as a hefty 750g stainless steel gravity cup.

含羞草研究社淲e like to do strange stuff. We try not to be limited in our creativity,含羞草研究社� Hiebert said. 含羞草研究社淭hat part of the business was growing really well. It was a step sideways to do a puzzle.含羞草研究社�

He wanted to build to a certain scale before introducing something like this puzzle.

含羞草研究社淢y customers are not expecting me to stay in my lane anymore,含羞草研究社� he said.

Aroundsquare also plans to open a retail space this year in the Sparrow building on the corner of Cook Street and Hillside Avenue.

含羞草研究社淰ictoria is becoming a bit of a puzzle hub,含羞草研究社� Hiebert said, pointing to Puzzle Lab in Victoria and Cobble Hill Puzzles in Saanich.

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e excited about the possibility of what we can do with that place. Our products are quite niche.含羞草研究社�

Contra is set to launch online Jan. 26.