BE@RBRICK Series 17 Basic (100%)

Since the very first series in 2001, the Basic Letter category has been the typographic backbone of every Bearbrick series – and in Series 17, released in December 2008, it appears in very special company. While Medicom Toy secured one of the most influential designers of American Mid-Century Modernism, Alexander Girard, as an artist partner for this winter edition, the Basic character proves once again: not every powerful statement needs a riot of color or licensed characters. Sometimes a single letter is enough.

The design principle is as simple as it is consistent: a monochrome body in ABS plastic, with a contrasting letter centered on its chest – one of nine that together spell out "BE@RBRICK". The concept doesn't aim for immediate impact, but rather for long-lasting fascination: the more you learn about the history of this figure, the more you understand why it's an indispensable part of any serious collection. The Basic Letter series is the common denominator of all Bearbrick generations – a constant that has maintained its visual validity through all collaborations and trends.

What distinguishes this 7 cm tall figure is its dual nature: viewed individually, it is a purist design object that achieves maximum impact with minimal effort. As part of the nine-letter series, it becomes an integral component of a larger typographic artwork – a concept reminiscent of the “Environmental Enrichment Panels” that Girard once designed for Herman Miller: elements that only reveal their full meaning when combined. For Series 17 collectors striving for the complete alphabet, this figure is an indispensable piece of the puzzle.

If you're looking for a Bearbrick that doesn't shout but whispers – and reveals more about the DNA of this format than many an elaborate special edition – then this is the one for you. The Basic Letter figure from Series 17 is Bearbrick in its purest, most honest form.