Like Clark Kent dashing into a phone booth, the mighty morphing Dodil dildo is a master of disguise (and costume changes). Once it emerges from the warm, metallic depths of its hero’s lair — or, rather, the toy’s adorable blue thermos — the Dodil is on a mission to create an explosive climax.
In slightly less heroic-sounding words, the Dodil is still a wonder of modern science. This isn’t surprising considering inventor Richard Almgren’s propensity for nerding out on 3D printers and developing thermoplastic chemical formulas.
It is not only a multi-tool for masturbation, but also a multi-key for societal discourse around sexuality.
After receiving his education in material physics, Almgren went on to travel the globe as a construction engineer, planning the lay of the land in dream-worthy countries like Iceland. Richard always knew his destiny involved problem-solving, but he never would have guessed said problem would be the elusive internal orgasm.
“With my knowledge and background, I have a keen interest in the development of new solutions to old issues through the use of new materials,” says Almgren, chief of operations at Dodil.
While fiddling around with ideas for a changeable fishing lure, Almgren stumbled upon what would later become the prototype for the Dodil. His groundbreaking idea involved a peculiar form of thermoplastic that, through its moldable, meltable properties, could replace the need for a whole tackle box full of lures aimed at landing myriad kinds of fish. During Almgren’s DIY R&D process, he found himself more inspired by this magical thermoplastic than the idea of a relaxing day on the lake.
“As an engineer, I had gotten seriously intrigued by the remarkable character of what is now the material core of the Dodil,” explains Almgren. “How it liquidizes when heated, and how durable and rigid it is when cool.”
Almgren’s innovation turned out to look more phallic than fishy, and he quickly changed gears from targeting outdoor enthusiasts to the sexual wellness industry.
“What I could not get my head around was why this ‘bioplastic’ had not yet been used much in new applications apart from internal medicine, so it got me thinking,” recalls Almgren. After some tinkering and a few rounds with CAD software, Almgren’s sporty invention was on its way to becoming resurrected as a sex toy.
The Dodil is the rare type of pleasure object that speaks for itself, but it might take a little conversation to figure out exactly how it works.
“The Dodil is an inner pleasure revolution shaped in the hands of people,” explains Almgren, who has racked up well over 500 different Dodil shapes using his own two hands and some hot water. The exterior is composed of a super-flexible, medical-grade silicone that easily accommodates whatever shape the user crafts after the thermoplastic core is heated.
So how does this mysterious Scandinavian creation turn into the ideal dildo? The directions are easier to follow than putting together an IKEA table.
The Dodil arrives solid as a rock in a matching bluish-green thermos. Boil some water on the stove, pour about a cup-full into the thermos, and give this stiffy around 30 minutes to stew. After careful extraction from its mini hot tub, the real fun begins. The Dodil is now as squishy as an old-school stress ball and ready to be shaped into a G-spot curve, a row of bulbous ridges, and whatever other pleasure-giving creations your sexy parts desire. Zap it with cold water and this alternative craft project solidifies into an insertable work of unique art.
“Lately we have gotten more responses telling about how useful it is as a multi-tool in the quest for a vaginal climax,” says Peter Gustavsson, head of communications for Dodil in Cologne, Germany. “We have been getting amazing reviews from the blogging community, confirming that it’s not just a great idea — it also works better than we imagined, bringing new internal sensations with every new dildo design that the user creates.”
Although this shape-shifting lover is driving the ladies wild, it is far from falling into the feminine sex toy stereotype. The company’s entire mission centers on a holistic view of sexuality. The Dodil’s packaging, marketing materials and online presence is completely free of gendered images — and people altogether — and the instructions avoid labeling body parts or making user assumptions except where physical safety is concerned.
“One of the extraordinary things with the Dodil is that it is not as ‘offensive’ as the general sex toy,” says Almgren.
It arrives without any real sexual symbolism, which is part of its appeal and charm. This mint-hued silicone dildo is a blank canvas for every human, regardless of gender identity or partner preference, to turn into their ideal masturbation device. And as it turns out, the power of pleasure reaches a lot further than our bedrooms.
As the sex-positive movement marches onward, the inclusive attitudes of this Swedish team are attracting fans even before they get a chance to squeeze the Dodil in person.
“In society, women’s emancipation is gaining momentum, and masturbation is not only OK, but also more encouraged, and the discussion is generally more open,” says Almgren.
The Nordic duo share more than just an upbringing in one of Europe’s most progressive countries. Both men are acutely aware of what marginalized individuals, like those within the LGBTQ community, face, especially in the U.S.
“Peter and I share basic core values of inclusiveness and equality, which we are building into the brand,” says Almgren.
The Dodil is part of their shared personal endeavor to leave the world better than they found it, and make an ethical impact on the pleasure product business.
“The Dodil contributes on all levels with responsive interaction from both the product and the brand,” explains Gustavsson. “It is not only a multi-tool for masturbation, but also a multi-key for societal discourse around sexuality.”
At its center (and not just the thermoplastic one), the Dodil is more than just a sex-art object. It’s a concept, and a conversation-starter that promotes acceptance and understanding for all the ways humans seek love and sexual connection. As Almgren concludes, there’s much, much more to chasing the inventor’s dream than padding your retirement savings.
“We are building up a voice, and the more loud and powerful it will become, the more good can we do.”
