Hex Flex

Few puzzle makers in the world have less need to prove themselves than Kagen Sound, who is widely considered to be one of the great artisans of the artform. Yet here he is, flexing for us. The inspiration for his newest creation came from a prototype called “Crunch Box” which Kagen made about eight years ago. At the time he hoped to produce it but the design failed him in a lot of different ways. He found himself having to add more and more onto the box to make it work, until it became “chunky”, and it would end up destroying itself during the solve. It was a cool idea, for someday, perhaps, but it wasn’t ready at that time. He shelved it for a few years.

Last summer into fall he was feeling confident again about the concept, and decided that a hexagon shape would be better, with an elevated, “protruding” top which solved some of the prior issues. The new form looked even more like a solid, “normal” box, but contained a magical effect. The rigid appearance was much cooler in the end. Kagen ran with the theme of making the box look as opposite from what it would ultimately “do” as possible, and this became his “mantra” during the development and production. He calls the design engineering of this box “joyful” in how it exploits the various inherent structural features of the wood, which is both rigidly solid, and yet, also … springy! Whatever that may imply! “This really fascinated me. I like to really push the limits of the tools, or mechanisms [or woods], with every project”.

He originally prototyped the box using straight grained wood. He happened to be playing around with Pacific maple burl at the time, and imagined it would be too weak or unstable for his purpose. It wasn’t! If anything, it enhanced the mechanisms, and he loved the look. Burls are relatively easy to finish, and he finds them fun to use, having a picturesque quality, like a painting. The prominent woods used in Hex Flex are “relatively” local for Kagen, a feature he appreciates. The stunning maple burl is from the west coast, and the zircote (which has a gorgeous creamy wave running through) is from the Yucatan peninsula to the south. He pays close attention to how sustainably the woods are harvested, and neither of these are currently threatened.

Kagen experiences his puzzles differently than his audience, since he already knows how they work. But he does have those “AHA” moments, and they can come in the early stages of a new design, which may work in his head, or on paper, but remain theoretical until proven. Those big moments for him are at times found during the initial test of a first working model. He recalls at that moment of the Hex Flex development feeling terrified, prepared for success or a shattering failure. “I was prepared for either in that moment – it was sort of terrifying! [and then…] Yes! Amazing!” Kagen is equally gratified to hear the same story play out by anyone who has experienced this box, which holds such emotion coiled inside, waiting to be released along with its secrets. He loves when puzzles take on an emotional component and sought to infuse those feelings into his creation.

It’s hard to overstate this experience. I’ll simply quote a friend and fellow collector who was so overwhelmed by the emotions this box creates. “Obviously it was going to be perfectly made. Obviously it was going to be beautiful. What I didn’t know, was that I was about to be taken on an emotional journey I never expected. When you think of puzzles, you think of Ah Ha! moments. You don’t typically factor in "fear uncertainty and doubt". Picking up subtle hints across the landscape of the box, there are plenty of typical aha moments. But then you get to THAT spot. THAT spot that drives you mad. Maybe you missed something. I know I did. And as such, another aha! But still, the fear and emotional rollercoaster continued to play out. There is no escaping this feeling. Kagen forces you to feel it. Whatever [preconceived notions] of Hex Flex [you might have], you can just throw that out the window. It’s not what you think. It’s far more terrifying (and impressive). Nothing can prepare you for what comes next, in the best way possible.”

Kagen recounts a smaller “aha” moment later in the design process when considering how to manage a tricky part of the solve (there are a few tricky steps!) near the end. The idea was unintended, originally, but when it came to him, he realized how powerful (and simple) it would be to include. It’s a subtle detail but sends another powerful emotion to the solver, causing a truly jaw dropping gasp while simultaneously making it clear you are on the right track. These aha moments come to him when he least expects it (neuro-cognitive scientist and puzzle inventor Dr. Simon Nightingale calls this process “unconscious logical reasoning” and explains the process behind it very well). “Go do something else and a cool idea hits you”. We have all likely experienced the phenomenon as well, “suddenly” thinking of the answer to a problem (or puzzle) “out of the blue”. This little idea that Kagen had makes a big impact on the solving experience and emotion. “[It was] hard to identify the power of that moment – it felt important to me, but why? I don’t think a younger version of me would have identified the power of that moment, [perhaps] thinking the mechanism would be tacky. As I get older, [I am embracing] these subtle emotional things that come up. I don’t feel the need to be as “cerebral” now, it’s not a battle of the brains. Puzzles should be subtle, magic, with a sense of humor – that’s the stuff I really like.”

Fresh out of college, when he first started making puzzles, he would worry that his ideas were not original enough. He sent one of his earliest designs to puzzle legend and authority Jerry Slocum, one hundred percent convinced that someone had already thought of the idea. He admits now it is hard to imagine thinking that his “Pinwheel Box” would not have been novel and thrilling for Jerry to receive, but that perspective has come with time. A good designer will always put their own twist on an idea, be it new or old. Kagen feels he is in a new growth period now, and he appreciates his new ability to see things differently, taking all of his skills and finally allowing the emotional side of puzzles to enter as well. It sure sounds like the best from Kagen is yet to come!

I’m going to flex a little as well now for my tribute to this fantastic box. Bartenders love to modify, elevate, and just play with classic cocktail templates and recipes, to make new drinks that remind you of the original but bring new flavors and surprises. Trends come and go for these cocktail “flexes”, so you’ve got to keep up with the times! Thinking about what I could pair up with a “hex” themed puzzle led me in all sorts of directions, but not to any decent drinks for my own personal palate. Except one, a drink I created for another hex themed puzzle, which was rather joyous. That drink, which I named The Joy of Hex (in homage to the delightfully flexible puzzle of the same name), is a variation of the Boulevardier, a drink which classically combines whiskey, sweet vermouth, and Campari and is a variation of another drink itself, the Negroni. If you’re ever in need of a little aphrodisiac, look no further.

I couldn’t just use the same drink over again, that’s simply not allowed here. So I thought, what the hex – let’s make a new version. A proper cocktail flex would need a few changes which take the drink in a subtle new direction. I swapped the Joy’s rum for a slightly smoky scotch blend that adds a cooler weather vibe and some anchoring depth. On the back end I modified the sweet port in the original with a complex sherry blend that has elements of both Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez, balancing that with a delicious vermouth. I increased the Campari to offset all that sweetness, and finished it off with a nod to the inspiration, some wood bitters that evoke a subtle forest essence to the glass and complete the emotions. It’s not a bad flex, as they come, and it’s delicious. Cheers!

Hex Flex

1 oz bourbon

½ oz scotch blend

1 oz Campari

½ oz sweet vermouth

½ oz East India Solera sherry

2 dashes wood bitters

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