Timber returns to town with a chipped wooden ruler, hoping to reopen his grandfather's workshop before the old street is redeveloped. After a storm, he discovers unfinished requests on the backs of old orders: a chair for someone coming home late, a display stand for a friend, a clock case still waiting for repair. He tries to finish them alone and falls further behind. Wrench repairs his tools, Sprig offers a courtyard and Tick recognises the dates on the orders. Timber finally understands that his grandfather left more than a list of jobs: he left a reason for neighbours to meet again. The workshop's first completed project is a table big enough for everyone.
From equating reliability with doing everything alone, through a damaging mistake, to asking for help and becoming a connector in the neighbourhood.
First-episode idea
One More Chair: a customer repeatedly orders an extra chair. Timber assumes a business is expanding, then learns the customer is making room for an old friend. After finishing, Timber discovers he has spent the whole meal standing.
CRF-001 / LEAD
Timber
DZ100-CRF-001 · Original board no. 001
“A little crooked? We can line it up again.”
Role
Carpenter; collection lead
Visual identity
Indigo work apron, carpenter's square and hand saw.
Personality & blind spot
Steady and dependable, but reluctant to delegate.
Current goal
Reopen his grandfather's neighbourhood workshop.
Likes & habits
Loves reclaimed timber; taps the workbench three times before starting.
Background
After a storm damages the workshop, Timber finds unfinished wishes written on the backs of old orders.
Story potential
Repairs objects to reconnect people, then realises he has made everyone a chair except himself.
CRF-002
Wrench
DZ100-CRF-002 · Original board no. 002
“Don't replace it yet. Let me listen.”
Role
Scooter mechanic
Visual identity
Orange overalls, spanner and scooter-repair tools.
Personality & blind spot
Quick-talking and observant; too eager to prove his diagnosis right.
Current goal
Recover his mentor's engine-tuning notes.
Likes & habits
Loves old scooters; diagnoses faults by listening.
Background
He takes over a corner repair stall and records each unfamiliar engine sound.
Story potential
Promises a one-minute repair, then spends an hour looking for his own spanner.
CRF-003
Loaf
DZ100-CRF-003 · Original board no. 003
“A little longer. It'll smell wonderful.”
Role
Baker
Visual identity
Flour-dusted cream apron, wooden bread paddle and round loaf.
Personality & blind spot
Gentle and exacting; frets over baking times.
Current goal
Make warm bread available to night-shift customers.
Likes & habits
Loves the smell of rising dough; names every batch.
Background
Neighbours turn his first burnt loaves into a shared meal, giving him the courage to open a bakery.
Story potential
Saves bread for everyone else and ends up eating the misshapen pieces.
CRF-004
Tide
DZ100-CRF-004 · Original board no. 004
“Take a little. Leave a little.”
Role
Coastal fisher
Visual identity
Yellow waterproof dungarees, dark knitwear, fishing net and rope.
Personality & blind spot
Generous and resourceful; embarrassed to admit he gets seasick.
Current goal
Find a safe new fishing ground.
Likes & habits
Enjoys mending nets; checks a rope knot before sailing.
Background
His grandmother teaches him to read the tides, and he starts sharing his observations with younger fishers.
Story potential
Claims to understand the sea, then gets thoroughly splashed by one small bucket of fish.
CRF-005
Sprig
DZ100-CRF-005 · Original board no. 005
“Let's see what it needs first.”
Role
Gardener
Visual identity
Green vest, watering can and wooden seedling box.
Personality & blind spot
Patient and perceptive; prone to over-caring.
Current goal
Turn an unused plot into a shared garden.
Likes & habits
Loves herbs; rotates each plant pot a little every day.
Background
A neglected plot comes to life when neighbours each contribute a handful of seeds.
Story potential
Applies gardening advice to friends, including regular reminders to drink water.
CRF-006
Kiln
DZ100-CRF-006 · Original board no. 006
“A little different. That's how you know it's yours.”
Role
Ceramic artist
Visual identity
Terracotta apron, clay bowl and traces of wet clay.
Personality & blind spot
Expressive and daring; often second-guesses a nearly finished piece.
Current goal
Create tableware that holds the neighbourhood's memories.
Likes & habits
Loves uneven cups; checks each rim with a fingertip.
Background
Her first firing leaves every pot cracked, but a neighbour chooses the wonkiest one as a planter.
Story potential
Finds handmade irregularities beautiful, then cannot decide what to do with a perfectly round cup.
CRF-007
Volt
DZ100-CRF-007 · Original board no. 007
“Check first. Power on second.”
Role
Electrician
Visual identity
Teal workwear, insulated tool belt and electrical tester.
Personality & blind spot
Calm and meticulous at work; absent-minded at home.
Current goal
Keep the old street market reliably lit.
Likes & habits
Enjoys organising cables; checks every box twice.
Background
Growing up with power cuts inspires him to map the wiring behind every street lamp.
Story potential
Can restore the whole street's lights, then discovers he has forgotten his own electricity bill.
CRF-008
Stitch
DZ100-CRF-008 · Original board no. 008
“When it fits, you stand a little taller.”
Role
Tailor
Visual identity
Burgundy waistcoat, measuring tape and pincushion.
Personality & blind spot
Precise and candid; uncompromising about fit.
Current goal
Make comfortable clothing for different bodies.
Likes & habits
Loves fabric remnants; tidies needles while chatting.
Background
Altering an outfit for a nervous customer shows Stitch how clothes can help someone feel welcome.
Story potential
Tailors clothes for everyone while keeping a safety pin in an unfinished sleeve.
CRF-009
Sweep
DZ100-CRF-009 · Original board no. 009
“A clearer street. A lighter day.”
Role
Street cleaner
Visual identity
Lime workwear, long broom and cleaning trolley.
Personality & blind spot
Cheerful and sociable; says yes to too many favours.
Current goal
Get the neighbourhood involved in caring for its square.
Likes & habits
Loves early mornings; taps a rhythm with his broom.
Background
The objects he finds on his rounds turn him into the town's unofficial lost-property keeper.
Story potential
Stops for one friendly chat and finishes with a cart full of things to return.
CRF-010
Tick
DZ100-CRF-010 · Original board no. 010
“Time isn't lost. It's just stuck.”
Role
Clock repairer
Visual identity
Dark-brown leather apron, small clock and single-eye loupe.
Personality & blind spot
Quiet and precise; anxious about missing important appointments.
Current goal
Repair the station clock, stopped at the same minute for years.
Likes & habits
Loves mechanical ticking; holds his breath to listen to a watch.
Background
A pocket watch with no hands arrives with an old ticket promising a reunion.
Story potential
Measures time to the second, yet is late because he stops to repair one more watch.
Original character concepts and stories by DONGZE. A new collection, with more stories to come.
