The Beginning 🧩
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I reached a point where I couldn't stand to stare at Netflix for one more minute. So, I dusted off a jigsaw puzzle and thought, "why not?" 😂
Hours later, my wife, our daughter, and I were huddled around the table, working on the puzzle together, each surprised by how calm and relaxed we felt, which is not a feeling we'd had in, well, forever.
As a Product Designer, this got me thinking: in a world of endless doom scrolling and mental health challenges, maybe puzzles are exactly what we need?
That calm, relaxing experience inspired me to create something special that would help others find the same kind of peace and connection we discovered that day.
Puzzles & Mental Health 🧠
What started as pandemic entertainment turned into something much deeper. Research shows that jigsaw puzzles are like a miracle cure for our overstimulated minds, reducing stress, improving focus, boosting short-term memory, and even helping fight memory loss and dementia. Studies suggest they can increase adult IQ and provide crucial mental health benefits in our always-on world.
Taking time away from screens and social media to work on a puzzle isn't just relaxing, it's essential. NBA players, soccer stars, and even celebrities like Kylie Jenner all jumped on the jigsaw bandwagon, and Instagram is flooded with people proudly showing off their completed puzzles.
The humble jigsaw puzzle had been rediscovered by a new generation.
The Jigsaw Puzzle, Reimagined 💡
Inspired by the spirit of innovation, think Richard Branson meets James Dyson, I set out to completely reimagine the humble jigsaw puzzle. Every detail was reconsidered, but the biggest breakthrough?
CREATING AN AUGMENTED REALITY EXPERIENCE
With our unique puzzles, placing the final piece doesn’t signal the finish, it unlocks the magic. Scan your completed puzzle and watch it spring to life in stunning 3D, with cinematic motion, and immersive sound that transform your table into a living, breathing scene. It’s not just a puzzle, it’s a showstopper you can share, frame, and experience again and again.
But we didn’t stop there. We tackled two more common frustrations: edge hunting and flimsy packaging. Our exclusive Edge-Finder system features a sparkling border pattern that makes edge pieces instantly recognizable, so you can build your frame faster and get to the good stuff. And we hand-designed a thick, durable slider box, no more crushed corners or loose pieces lost to the void. It’s premium storage that protects your puzzle and looks great on the shelf.
Why Puzzle Tubes? 🤔
Because every puzzle is a portal.
When you hold your phone over a Puzzle Tubes creation, you're not just scanning, you're peering through a tube into hidden dimensions. Each carefully crafted piece forms a window, a passage, a secret doorway that transforms your dining table into a gateway to extraordinary worlds.
Puzzle Tubes isn’t just a new kind of puzzle. It’s a whole new art form.
Augmented Reality 🪄
The augmented reality experience didn't happen overnight. We invested enormous amounts of research, development, and countless iterations to create something truly special.
What started as a simple idea evolved through draft after draft until we achieved today's immersive 3D movement and experience-enhancing audio.
We've reinvented the humble jigsaw puzzle into a new art form where completing the puzzle isn't the end, it's just the beginning. When you place that final piece, your creation springs to life with stunning 3D animations, hidden surprises, and interactive elements that transform your dining table into a portal to another world.
Quality, Inside and Out 🌟
Everything about our puzzles is designed with intention and care. Our premium puzzle paper is FSC-certified and eco-friendly, because we believe in protecting the planet our children will inherit. Each puzzle features a matte finish that eliminates glare and provides a silky-smooth touch experience that feels as good as it looks.
We've custom-designed our own slider boxes, no flimsy cardboard here. These sturdy, reusable containers protect your puzzle and look beautiful on any shelf. Plus, every puzzle includes two giant posters: one for reference and one for sharing with friends and family.
Our puzzles are crafted in the beloved Where's Waldo and Wimmelbilder style, packed with intricate details and hidden discoveries that keep you engaged for hours. Quality isn't just about the pieces, it's about the entire experience.
The Team Comes Together 🤝
What started as a solo mission has evolved into something incredible. Today, I'm proud to work alongside two amazing partners who share the vision of reinventing the puzzle experience:
Michêle brings her expertise in Business Development, helping us connect with retailers, media, and the puzzle community worldwide. Her strategic vision has been instrumental in getting our puzzles into the hands of families everywhere.
Rahul leads our Marketing and Technology efforts, ensuring our augmented reality experiences are seamless and our brand reaches puzzle lovers globally. His technical expertise and creative marketing approach have been game-changing.
Together, we're not just a puzzle company, we're a team dedicated to creating moments of calm, connection, and wonder in an increasingly chaotic world.
Mark - Strategy & Design
Mark is the creative force behind PuzzleTubes, a premium puzzle brand blending the timeless joy of jigsaw puzzling with cutting-edge augmented reality.
With a background in Tech startups and a deep appreciation for design, Mark is reimagining what puzzles can be.
He believes every puzzle should offer more than just a completed picture, it should tell a story, spark imagination, and invite connection.
Michêle - Sales Director
I joined Puzzle Tubes when Mark, our Co-Founder, reached out to me to bring my sales expertise and people skills to the team, maybe a missing piece of our puzzle! As an outgoing and fun-loving puzzle enthusiast with years of experience in sales and distribution, I thrive on challenges and seeing projects through to completion.
My dedication to quality and customer satisfaction drives us to provide an exceptional selection of 3D AR puzzles that blend innovation, education, and entertainment.
Rahul - Marketing & Tech
I joined PuzzleTubes to lead our Marketing and Technology efforts, two worlds I love blending to create magical, memorable experiences. With a background in digital strategy, immersive media, and creative tech, I’m passionate about building innovative tools that connect people in unexpected ways.
From shaping our AR platform to sharing our story with the world, I’m proud to help turn each PuzzleTube into something truly extraordinary, where every piece clicks into something bigger.
Our Mission 🌍
We're not just making puzzles, we're creating antidotes to our hyper-connected world. In an age of constant notifications and endless scrolling, our puzzles offer something precious: the opportunity to slow down, focus, and connect with the people who matter most.
Every puzzle we create is designed to bring families together, reduce stress, and spark wonder. We're proving that sometimes the most innovative technology isn't about adding more screens to our lives, it's about making the analog world magical again.
Peaceful (and hopefully mind-blowing) Puzzling! 🧩
Here’s to quiet moments, surprising discoveries, and puzzles that come to life, literally. May each piece bring you joy, awe, and just a little bit of magic. 🪄✨
👋 Mark, Michêle, and Rahul