The Ugly Duck (TUD TOY brand) is an art object with a soul, born at the intersection of art, design and philosophy of self-acceptance. The brand's idea was born in 2022 as an NFT project inspired by the tale of a duckling who becomes a swan not in spite of, but because of his otherness. Soon, digital images turned into real collectible figurines, symbolizing the power of inner growth. The founders of the project, combining the creative forces of Kazan and Dubai, created something more than a toy — they launched a cultural phenomenon that rapidly conquered the world of modern design.
In the first year, The Ugly Duck became a real breakthrough: the first collection sold out in an hour, and NFT sales exceeded two million dollars. The brand's art figures have become a platform for high-profile collaborations with iconic personalities: Mike Tyson, Michael Jackson, artists Punk Me Tender and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Each series is limited to several hundred copies, equipped with an NFC chip and a unique certificate of authenticity, turning the object into an authentic art investment product. The complex sculptural form, recycled materials, and high—precision casting all make the figurine aesthetically flawless and technically perfect.
Today, The Ugly Duck is represented at international exhibitions, including Salone del Mobile in Milan, Seoul Living Design Fair and Maison & Objet in Paris. The brand's showrooms are open in Dubai, the USA and South Korea, and its fans are not only collectors, but also people close to art, fashion and cultural entrepreneurship.
The Ugly Duck figurine is more than an interior piece. It is a manifesto of personal strength, beauty in unconventionality and the courage to be yourself.