From hobby to heartfelt exhibition: How one of our fans in Poland inspired an entire town
There are fans… and then there’s Vitold Ziółkowski - an artist, a storyteller, and a true Ugears ambassador in Poland. Over the past three years, he’s built more than 60 Ugears models, and recently, he brought his passion to life in an extraordinary way: by organizing a full-blown Ugears exhibition in the town of Janowiec Wielkopolski.
And trust us—it was unforgettable.
A town transformed by 3D wooden puzzle magic
Janowiec Wielkopolski might be small (just around 5,000 people live there), but for two magical weeks, it became a buzzing hub of gears, levers, and wooden wonders.
Vitold went far beyond simply lining up his completed models. He poured his artistic spirit into every aspect of the experience:
🧊 Custom display cubes to present each model like a true museum piece
♻️ Creative sculptures from leftover parts (yes, even scraps turned into art!)
💍 Handmade wooden jewelry — because creativity doesn’t stop at instructions
🎁 A raffle box, stocked with Ugears mini models he bought himself to give away
🏆 And even a handcrafted award, which he presented to the Polish Ugears partners as a thank-you from the heart
Over 1,000 people visited the exhibition. That’s 1 in every 5 residents. Amazing, right?
The first spark: One gift that changed everything
We wanted to know: where did it all begin?
Vitold shared his story with us, and honestly—it gave us goosebumps.
“My adventure with Ugears started when a dear friend from Ukraine gave me the Roadster VM-01. As I built it, my respect for the designers and creators grew with every single piece. I didn’t expect it to be so beautiful, so detailed. When I finished it, I even gave it a name—SLAWA 2022, in honor of my friend.”
That one model? It sparked a passion. He jokes now that he became “addicted” to building… but then corrects himself:
“Let’s call it what it is: a true passion.”
What makes Ugears special? It’s the feeling
So what keeps Vitold coming back, model after model?
“It’s the combination of creativity and focus, but in such a relaxing way. That might sound like a contradiction, but Ugears somehow makes both work together. You get lost in it—but in a good way.”
He also speaks warmly about meeting Ruslan, the representative who runs the official Ugears salon in Wrocław:
“He’s such a kind person. Visiting the shop felt like meeting someone who really gets it. That human connection? That’s what makes Ugears different.”
A message to first-time builders
When we asked Vitold what he’d tell someone about to build their first Ugears model, his answer came from the heart:
“Turn off the TV. Step away from your phone. Buy any Ugears model. Then sit down, and just start. You’ll find something inside yourself—a creator, a maker. And soon, the people around you will start to notice and admire your work, too.”
Favorite model? Always the first
Even after building more than 60 models, Vitold still has a soft spot for his first love:
“The Roadster VM-01 is special. It’s the one that started it all. That little spark that turned into an avalanche.”
But he also says it’s not about which model is “best.” It’s about the experience of building each one. The feeling of concentration, relaxation, and joy — that’s what matters most.
Spreading the passion — one town at a time
The Janowiec exhibition wasn’t the end. It was just the beginning.
Vitold has already hosted a second event in his hometown of Damasławek, and he’s got plans to bring the magic to Wągrowiec, Żnin, and even Warsaw’s Białołęka district. At every stop, he demonstrates how the models work as he wants to share the joy, and maybe even inspire the next generation of builders.
“I want young people to forget their phones for a minute… and discover something real. And I want adults to stop scrolling, stop watching TV, and find out how patient, creative, and focused they really are.”
A heartfelt thank you
We were so moved by Vitold’s dedication that we sent him a small gift — the limited edition Secret Book, as a thank-you from the whole Ugears family.
His reaction? He was genuinely touched.
See it for yourself
👉 Check out the Instagram reel of the exhibition
This is why we do what we do
At Ugears, we love building moments. And stories like Vitold’s remind us why we started this journey in the first place.
To spark joy.
To inspire creativity.
To help people feel the pride of saying, “I built this.”
Thank you, Vitold. You're what this is all about.
And to every fan reading this: keep creating, keep sharing, and never stop being amazed by what your hands can do.
