Product

Sort n Seek

Sort n Seek

Sort n Seek

DATE

May 2022

abstract project cover
abstract project cover
abstract project cover

The Project.

The Project.

The Project.

In this class project, we were asked to develop a product or device for use by or with a young child (i.e. <5 years old). It could be a toy, game, piece of furniture, or other other device appropriate for children. This assignment was a great exercise in design using anthropometry and CMF.

In this class project, we were asked to develop a product or device for use by or with a young child (i.e. <5 years old). It could be a toy, game, piece of furniture, or other other device appropriate for children. This assignment was a great exercise in design using anthropometry and CMF.

In this class project, we were asked to develop a product or device for use by or with a young child (i.e. <5 years old). It could be a toy, game, piece of furniture, or other other device appropriate for children. This assignment was a great exercise in design using anthropometry and CMF.

User Research.

User Research.

User Research.

Because of my background in neuroscience research, I immediately I knew I wanted to create a toy that aids in cognitive development.


There's an inherent challenge here—babies' development progresses very rapidly, so a toy that only serves one purpose will quickly become obsolete.


I originally wanted my toy to help introduce object permanence, a concept that is learned over the course of about 4-5 months. This short developmental stage wasn't going to cut it for the lifespan of a marketable product. So after a lot more research, I settled on four developmental milestones to create for:

Because of my background in neuroscience research, I immediately I knew I wanted to create a toy that aids in cognitive development.


There's an inherent challenge here—babies' development progresses very rapidly, so a toy that only serves one purpose will quickly become obsolete.


I originally wanted my toy to help introduce object permanence, a concept that is learned over the course of about 4-5 months. This short developmental stage wasn't going to cut it for the lifespan of a marketable product. So after a lot more research, I settled on four developmental milestones to create for:

Because of my background in neuroscience research, I immediately I knew I wanted to create a toy that aids in cognitive development.


There's an inherent challenge here—babies' development progresses very rapidly, so a toy that only serves one purpose will quickly become obsolete.


I originally wanted my toy to help introduce object permanence, a concept that is learned over the course of about 4-5 months. This short developmental stage wasn't going to cut it for the lifespan of a marketable product. So after a lot more research, I settled on four developmental milestones to create for:

project visual 1

If I can successfully design a toy that help aids in these four areas, my product will be appropriate for children from about 3 months to 3 years old. This is a lot longer than most baby toys on the market.

If I can successfully design a toy that help aids in these four areas, my product will be appropriate for children from about 3 months to 3 years old. This is a lot longer than most baby toys on the market.

If I can successfully design a toy that help aids in these four areas, my product will be appropriate for children from about 3 months to 3 years old. This is a lot longer than most baby toys on the market.

The Process.

The design I came up with consists of a small set of six drawers and six corresponding colorful shapes.

project visual 1
project visual 1
project visual 1
project visual 1

The Process.

The Process.

The design I came up with consists of a small set of six drawers and six corresponding colorful shapes. Here's how I envisioned it:

project visual 1
project visual 1
project visual 1
project visual 1
project visual 1
project visual 1
project visual 1
project visual 1

Anthropometry


The most important consideration here is that the toy is not a choking hazard. For our target user—children under 3—choking can be a big risk. To eliminate this danger, the an object should have a width and length of at least 31.7 x 57.1 mm. The colorful shapes are the smallest parts of my product, and each of them is 80 x 80 mm. Therefore the choking risk is eliminated.


The other potential safety issue I wanted to address is fingers getting pinched in the drawers when opening or closing them. The notch on the drawers should be sized such that even the oldest users are still able to fit their finger through the notch with room to spare to prevent pinching. According to an anthropometry dataset produced by the School of Design of Northumbria, the average diameter of the distal finger joint of a 30-36 month-old is 10.0 mm. To be on the safe side, the height of the drawer notches is 15.0 mm, so no fingers get pinched.

Anthropometry


The most important consideration here is that the toy is not a choking hazard. For our target user—children under 3—choking can be a big risk. To eliminate this danger, the an object should have a width and length of at least 31.7 x 57.1 mm. The colorful shapes are the smallest parts of my product, and each of them is 80 x 80 mm. Therefore the choking risk is eliminated.


The other potential safety issue I wanted to address is fingers getting pinched in the drawers when opening or closing them. The notch on the drawers should be sized such that even the oldest users are still able to fit their finger through the notch with room to spare to prevent pinching. According to an anthropometry dataset produced by the School of Design of Northumbria, the average diameter of the distal finger joint of a 30-36 month-old is 10.0 mm. To be on the safe side, the height of the drawer notches is 15.0 mm, so no fingers get pinched.

Anthropometry:


The most important consideration here is that the toy is not a choking hazard. For our target user—children under 3—choking can be a big risk. To eliminate this danger, the an object should have a width and length of at least 31.7 x 57.1 mm. The colorful shapes are the smallest parts of my product, and each of them is 80 x 80 mm. Therefore the choking risk is eliminated.


The other potential safety issue I wanted to address is fingers getting pinched in the drawers when opening or closing them. The notch on the drawers should be sized such that even the oldest users are still able to fit their finger through the notch with room to spare to prevent pinching. According to an anthropometry dataset produced by the School of Design of Northumbria, the average diameter of the distal finger joint of a 30-36 month-old is exactly 10.0 mm. To be on the safe side, the height of the drawer notches is 15.0 mm, so no fingers get pinched.

project visual 4
project visual 4
project visual 4
project visual 4
project visual 4
project visual 4


Color, Material, Finish


Our users are babies, so they're going to put just about everything in their mouths, especially the shapes. I settled on mold casting food-grade silicone for them. Silicone is durable, can be easily washed, easily dyed different colors, and has a smooth surface that is resistant to harboring bacteria.


Each shape is a distinct bright color with enough variation between shades that a young child can easily identify them.


The drawers will be opaque acrylic. Acrylic is nontoxic, lightweight, and durable, making it perfect for this application. I’ve chosen an opaque white so that it doesn't compete with the colors of the shapes, while still being aesthetically pleasing.

Color, Material, Finish


Our users are babies, so they're going to put just about everything in their mouths, especially the shapes. I settled on mold casting food-grade silicone for them. Silicone is durable, can be easily washed, easily dyed different colors, and has a smooth surface that is resistant to harboring bacteria.


Each shape is a distinct bright color with enough variation between shades that a young child can easily identify them.


The drawers will be opaque acrylic. Acrylic is nontoxic, lightweight, and durable, making it perfect for this application. I’ve chosen an opaque white so that it doesn't compete with the colors of the shapes, while still being aesthetically pleasing.

Color, Material, Finish


Our users are babies, so they're going to put just about everything in their mouths, especially the shapes. I settled on mold casting food-grade silicone for them. Silicone is durable, can be easily washed, easily dyed different colors, and has a smooth surface that is resistant to harboring bacteria.


Each shape is a distinct bright color with enough variation between shades that a young child can easily identify them.


The drawers will be opaque acrylic. Acrylic is nontoxic, lightweight, and durable, making it perfect for this application. I’ve chosen an opaque white so that it doesn't compete with the colors of the shapes, while still being aesthetically pleasing.

The Result.

The Result.

The Result.

The Sort n Seek consists of a small set of six drawers and a six food-grade silicone shapes. The purpose of the toy is for the child to sort the shapes into the drawers based on the sticker on each one. 


What the Sort n Seek toy teaches:


  1. Object permanence

Putting the shapes out of sight and then revealing them again reinforces object permanence


  1. Fine motor skills

Opening the small drawers practices delicate movements


  1. Visual discrimination

Matching the shape to the correct drawer helps teach children to recognize patterns and shapes


Bonus: Teething

The shapes are 100% food-grade silicone, making them a perfect teething toy!

The Sort n Seek consists of a small set of six drawers and six silicone shapes. The purpose of the toy is for the child to sort the shapes into the drawers based on the sticker on each one. 


What the Sort n Seek toy teaches:


  1. Object permanence

Putting the shapes out of sight and then revealing them again reinforces object permanence


  1. Fine motor skills

Opening the small drawers practices delicate movements


  1. Visual discrimination

Matching the shape to the correct drawer helps teach children to recognize patterns and shapes


Bonus: Teething

The shapes are 100% food-grade silicone, making them a perfect teething toy!

The Sort n Seek consists of a small set of six drawers and six silicone shapes. The purpose of the toy is for the child to sort the shapes into the drawers based on the sticker on each one. 


What the Sort n Seek toy teaches:


  1. Object permanence

Putting the shapes out of sight and then revealing them again reinforces object permanence


  1. Fine motor skills

Opening the small drawers practices delicate movements


  1. Visual discrimination

Matching the shape to the correct drawer helps teach children to recognize patterns and shapes


Bonus: Teething

The shapes are 100% food-grade silicone, making them a perfect teething toy!

CAD render

Prototype

project visual 2
project visual 2
project visual 3
project visual 3

Prototyping


To make the drawers, I laser cut the pieces out of acrylic. The edges were quite sharp, so I used a dremel to deburr each panel individually, and again when it was fully assembled.

Prototyping


To make the drawers, I laser cut the pieces out of acrylic. The edges are deburred to be completely safe for children.

Prototyping


To make the drawers, I laser cut the pieces out of acrylic. The edges were quite sharp, so I used a dremel to deburr each panel individually, and again when it was fully assembled.

I dyed liquid food-grade silicone and cast them in discs, which I then carved into each shape.

CAD render

Prototype

project visual 2
project visual 2
project visual 3
project visual 3

The Sort n Seek has a corresponding app intended to be used by the parent. It provides ideas for different play setups.

The Sort n Seek has a corresponding app intended to be used by the parent. It provides ideas for different play setups. Try clicking around the app!

The Sort n Seek has a corresponding app intended to be used by the parent. It provides ideas for different play setups.