Our History
The creator
Marc Duran spent more than ten years working for major international consulting firms after studying quantitative economics with a specialization in business strategy.
Curious by nature and always on the lookout for new intellectual challenges, at the end of 2023 he discovered a way to combine his skills as a consultant and engineer with his many passions, including history, architecture, cryptology and, of course, brain teasers and puzzles: becoming a designer of mechanical puzzles.
After spending his childhood playing with Lego, gaming became an important passion in his adolescence with the discovery of puzzle video games (the famous ‘Myst-like’ games) with titles that are now prestigious, such as Myst (1993), Riven (1997), Fable (1996), Zork Grand Inquisitor (1997), Egypt 1156 BC (1997), The Room (2003), etc.
As an adult, immersive games have enriched this passion, particularly through escape games (more than 50 rooms played) and treasure hunts: ‘Sur la trace de la Chouette d'Or’ (Michel Becker) and Exkalibur (Etienne Picand).
Drawing on all these gaming experiences, Marc draws inspiration from rich and varied worlds to design puzzle boxes that are both mechanically complex and captivating in terms of graphics and storyline.
"I embarked on this project with the intention of creating puzzles with mechanisms that would surprise the player and that cannot be found elsewhere, all in a universe with a strong, dark and elegant aesthetic. In fact, I wanted to create the puzzle boxes that I dreamed of having but that no one had yet designed.
It's a wonderful object that fascinates and intrigues: a blend of art and engineering that triggers a strong addiction in anyone who picks up a box. You want to take on the challenge, to measure yourself against the box, but in reality, you're measuring yourself against yourself."
Legend
Why Archimaze?
The name Archimaze was not born by chance; it is inspired by several concepts that, together, define the essence of our brand and our creations:
Archi for Architecture , because our universe is inspired by architectural masterpieces, particularly in the Gothic style. The latter combines both elegance and complexity, two elements dear to the creator of the company.
Archi as in the Greek prefix " Arkhi " which marks preeminence, "the first rank" and therefore our desire to offer high-end, innovative and highly complex products.
Maze , which means labyrinth, refers to the intellectual challenges and puzzles we design. Our puzzles are like mazes that require thought and determination to find the way out.
Finally, the name Archimaze phonetically evokes the scientist Archimedes , a famous Greek physicist, engineer, mathematician and astronomer from the 3rd century BC, who is credited with creating the very first puzzle. This nod to Ancient History reflects the creator's fascination with History.
Our commitments
Creations for collectors
Each of our creations is produced in limited series using the most advanced technologies and assembled by hand to guarantee the proper functioning of the mechanisms for a product of excellence.
Each creation is accompanied by its numbered certificate of authenticity, indicating the date of manufacture. This document bears the signature and stamp of the creator. Keep it carefully to attest to the value of your copy.
Eco-responsibility
Our products are made from compostable and recyclable bio-plastic.
Furthermore, when designing and industrializing our creations, we make sure to optimize the components so that they generate the least loss of material, thus limiting waste.
Finally, we focus pragmatically on utilitarian packaging to limit waste.