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A fluid manipulation playground toy for 3-5-year old kids

Type: School Project                       My Role: Graphic Designer, Researcher, Prototyper                              

Duration: 5 Months                          Client: Landscape Structure Inc

THE OUTCOME

Designed and prototyped a full-scale human figure fluid toy, and users can manipulate parts of the body to see different fluid actions that relate to body functions

THE CHALLENGE

Develop an educational playground toy for kids

INTRO

A fluid manipulation playground toy for 3-5-year old kids

Type: Freelance                           My Role: UI Designer                                

Duration: 2 Months                     Tools: PhotoShop, MockingBot

Facts that we learned

In order to have a better understanding of ..., we interviewed 10 people including older patients and their caregivers to talk about their experiences and feelings. I also did a literature review to learn existing screening tools and interviewed clinical staff about their ethical concerns during visiting the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Problem to Solve


Since most of our friends are extremely busy or have limited availability, plans get canceled often. People need friends. Many people want to make new friends but also shy to meet new people outside of social events. "How we can facilitate easier meet ups and friendships for busy or shy U of M students?"

Solution

We designed an app to "push " people to meet.  

Type: Freelance                           My Role: UI Designer                                

Duration: 2 Months                     Tools: PhotoShop, MockingBot

Facts that we learned

In order to have a better understanding of ..., we interviewed 10 people including older patients and their caregivers to talk about their experiences and feelings. I also did a literature review to learn existing screening tools and interviewed clinical staff about their ethical concerns during visiting the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

CONCEPT GENERATION

By several rounds of brainstorming, we generated 70+ ideas. Through a few group discussions, we found a big opportunity gap - why is there no fluid manipulation device at any playground for now?

RESEARCH

Research process started by exploring playgrounds at different locations. Each team member visited two playgrounds and took photos and notes, then brought them back to discuss together. 

___

The poster I

designed for our

initial concept 

Initial Concept - Spinning Sandscape

  • Why - no fluid devices at any playground 

  • What - a tangible interface for designing and understanding landscapes through a variety of computational simulations using sand.

  • Who - for 3-5-year-old children

  • How - children can create their own work of art by spinning the frame on the swivel stand. With each turn, the sand slowly shifts to create a new scene

  • Challenge - keep the liquid steady at a low temperature

Initial Concept

PROTOTYPING 

& PLAYTEST

Three directions

  • Material Investigation: oil; water; glitter; different kind of colored sand

  • Function: water pump; magnet  

  • Motion: a spinning wood circle

First Round PlayTest and Feedback

  • Develop the concept

  • Determine the material

  • Develop more color

  • Love the water pump

Second Round Sketch Model & Construction

First Round Sketch

Model Construction

Challenge

  • Leak-proof

Challenge

  • How to pump the heart from the bottom without leaking

  • How to joint each wood piece for Sandman

  • How to rotate Colorscape easier

Second Round PlayTest and Feedback

What's changed

  • Built two full-scale models: Colorscape and Sandman

  • Figured out the liquid material which allows for a low freezing point so that it can withstand temperature as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit without freezing

  • Developed the water pump function to the “heart” pump for Sandman

  • Developed 7 colors for Colorscape

"Just one direction for the pump is a little boring, may consider adding unique 'disturbance mechanism' for each panel to give more variety.."

            "The heart pump is fun, I love it!"

“I can play with it a whole day!”

      "The colored liquid did not have as great an effect as the clear liquid with vibrant green sand."

  • Created a human figure panel of numerous interactive faces of acrylic which contains the material we tested

  • Utilized multiple disruption features including air pumps, oil dripping mechanisms and sand pictures 

  • This toy was built to be not only unique, imaginative and educational  but also practical and environmental.

 

FINAL

PRODUCT

Lung

Brain

Heart

Gut

Belly

FINAL FEEDBACK 

What we got: 300 comments after PLAYSENTATION 

Next Step: to build more with figures of animals, oceans and even outer space

Check out our final Playsentation!

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