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 sa国际传媒� with a defined image as the goal.

A Victoria toymakersa国际传媒檚 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.

sa国际传媒淵ou can sit around with people and do it together and itsa国际传媒檚 a bit of a social pressure valve. Yousa国际传媒檙e not obligated to be talking, talking talking, you can just relax and be together,sa国际传媒� Hiebert said.

A toy designer for 20 years, the newest creation brings a taste of Hiebertsa国际传媒檚 early days when he developed unusually-shaped wooden blocks for users to build unexpected sculptures.

sa国际传媒淭hese were decidedly sa国际传媒榶ousa国际传媒檙e not building anything that resembles anythingsa国际传媒� sa国际传媒� itsa国际传媒檚 just the joy of open-ended building,sa国际传媒� 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.

sa国际传媒淚 started to realize that creativity can be facilitated when you have a structure yousa国际传媒檙e building within. sa国际传媒� Itsa国际传媒檚 an enriching experience.sa国际传媒�

It also levels the playing field between those who excel at puzzles and those who donsa国际传媒檛. Hiebert said his youngest, who is four, spent hours putting pieces together this winter.

sa国际传媒淏ecause they can fit together in any arrangement theresa国际传媒檚 no frustration,sa国际传媒� he explained.

Contra is a veer away from the small metal skill toys theysa国际传媒檝e been developing the last few years.

In recent years, Aroundsquaresa国际传媒檚 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.

sa国际传媒淲e like to do strange stuff. We try not to be limited in our creativity,sa国际传媒� Hiebert said. sa国际传媒淭hat part of the business was growing really well. It was a step sideways to do a puzzle.sa国际传媒�

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

sa国际传媒淢y customers are not expecting me to stay in my lane anymore,sa国际传媒� 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.

sa国际传媒淰ictoria is becoming a bit of a puzzle hub,sa国际传媒� Hiebert said, pointing to Puzzle Lab in Victoria and Cobble Hill Puzzles in Saanich.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e excited about the possibility of what we can do with that place. Our products are quite niche.sa国际传媒�

Contra is set to launch online Jan. 26.