ENVISION KID-FRIENDLY PLAY STRUCTURES FOR COMPACT INDOOR SPACES
ENVISION KID-FRIENDLY PLAY STRUCTURES FOR COMPACT INDOOR SPACES
ENVISION KID-FRIENDLY PLAY STRUCTURES FOR COMPACT INDOOR SPACES
How can we create multifunctional, immersive, and durable indoor play structures that foster children’s development while adapting to parents’ needs?
Date
Date
Date
Sep 2024 - Dec 2024
Sep 2024 - Dec 2024
Sep 2024 - Dec 2024
Type
Type
Type
Case Study
Case Study
Case Study
Role
Role
Role
UX Researcher
Product Designer
UX Researcher
Product Designer
UX Researcher
Product Designer
Overview
This project was developed as part of the User-Centered Design course within the Human-Centered Design & Engineering Master’s program at the University of Washington.
Our team: Shiori Pathak, Aleigha Mattison, Tingwei Shen, Chang Zeng
This project was developed as part of the User-Centered Design course within the Human-Centered Design & Engineering Master’s program at the University of Washington.
Our team: Shiori Pathak, Aleigha Mattison, Tingwei Shen, Chang Zeng
The Challenge
How can we create multifunctional, immersive, and durable indoor play structures that foster children’s development while adapting to parents’ needs?
How can we create multifunctional, immersive, and durable indoor play structures that foster children’s development while adapting to parents’ needs?
Showcase Video
Process
To guide this process, we followed the structure of the Double Diamond method, while remaining flexible to ensure the solution was both innovative and practically beneficial to our personas.
To guide this process, we followed the structure of the Double Diamond method, while remaining flexible to ensure the solution was both innovative and practically beneficial to our personas.
Double Diamond Process
Research Methods
After initial research revealed the importance of ‘risky play’ for development and the impacts of excessive screen time, we conducted a survey, semi-structured interviews, and guided tours.
This multi-method approach helped inform our user personas and core design requirements. Here’s why we picked each method:
Survey: to gather broad insights from diverse families
Semi-Structured Interviews: to explore family lives and play needs
Guided Tours: to observe how families use their spaces in real-time
All participants were parents with one or more children under 12 years old, representing a range of home sizes, income levels, and parenting styles.
After initial research revealed the importance of ‘risky play’ for development and the impacts of excessive screen time, we conducted a survey, semi-structured interviews, and guided tours.
This multi-method approach helped inform our user personas and core design requirements. Here’s why we picked each method:
Survey: to gather broad insights from diverse families
Semi-Structured Interviews: to explore family lives and play needs
Guided Tours: to observe how families use their spaces in real-time
All participants were parents with one or more children under 12 years old, representing a range of home sizes, income levels, and parenting styles.
Research Questions
What challenges do families encounter in facilitating play for their children?
How do home environments affect children’s play activities?
What influences parents’ choices for indoor versus outdoor play?
How do seasonal changes affect children’s activity levels and preferences?
What challenges do families encounter in facilitating play for their children?
How do home environments affect children’s play activities?
What influences parents’ choices for indoor versus outdoor play?
How do seasonal changes affect children’s activity levels and preferences?
Personas
After gathering, organizing, and synthesizing our findings, we developed two user personas to guide the design of our solution.
After gathering, organizing, and synthesizing our findings, we developed two user personas to guide the design of our solution.
Persona of a parent with a large home space, remote job, and two year old child
Persona of a parent in an apartment with two children
Design Goals
Based on our personas, we determined that the design solution should be…
Based on our personas, we determined that the design solution should be…
1. Space-efficient — suitable for shared spaces with built-in storage and modular flexibility
2. Adaptable — evolves with a child’s changing needs and accommodates multiple age groups
3. Developmental — supports immersive play and fosters cognitive and physical growth
4. Safe and Sustainable — made from non-hazardous materials, durable for long-term use
1. Space-efficient — suitable for shared spaces with built-in storage and modular flexibility
2. Adaptable — evolves with a child’s changing needs and accommodates multiple age groups
3. Developmental — supports immersive play and fosters cognitive and physical growth
4. Safe and Sustainable — made from non-hazardous materials, durable for long-term use
Design Ideation
We followed the steps in the sprint process to map, sketch, and decide.
We followed the steps in the sprint process to map, sketch, and decide.
Initial Group Sketches
Refining sketches to best meet our design goals
Storyboard
Storyboarding was also key to generating and fine-tuning ideas.
Storyboarding was also key to generating and fine-tuning ideas.
Natasha & Modigo
Prototyping
We selected the modular cube concept from our sketches for its adaptability to various play spaces. A mini-scale cardboard prototype tested the design’s versatility for creative configurations in various scenarios.
We selected the modular cube concept from our sketches for its adaptability to various play spaces. A mini-scale cardboard prototype tested the design’s versatility for creative configurations in various scenarios.
Mini Scale Prototype for Usability Testing
Usability testing showed the solution’s versatility, with each participant creating unique configurations for the scenarios. However, concerns arose about scale, structural durability, and feeling overwhelmed by endless possibilities.
These insights guided us to finalize a standard size, design durable connections, and conceptualize a companion app for inspiration and secure configurations.
Usability testing showed the solution’s versatility, with each participant creating unique configurations for the scenarios. However, concerns arose about scale, structural durability, and feeling overwhelmed by endless possibilities.
These insights guided us to finalize a standard size, design durable connections, and conceptualize a companion app for inspiration and secure configurations.
Standard Cube Design
Connection Piece Design
Companion App Prototype
Final Solution
The final solution is a modular cube system with built-in storage and customizable attachments, offering endless configurations to fit your space and your child’s needs.
The final solution is a modular cube system with built-in storage and customizable attachments, offering endless configurations to fit your space and your child’s needs.
Modigo 3D Rendering
Modigo 3D Rendering
Modigo 3D Rendering
Connecting pieces and scanning spaces with the companion app:
Connecting pieces and scanning spaces with the companion app:
Interface Walkthrough-1
Interface Walkthrough-2
Interface Walkthrough-3
Future Steps
While this project was completed within a quarter, with more time, our team would focus on building a full-scale physical prototype using wood and metal, developing functional attachment pieces, and conducting thorough testing to evaluate durability and usability.
While this project was completed within a quarter, with more time, our team would focus on building a full-scale physical prototype using wood and metal, developing functional attachment pieces, and conducting thorough testing to evaluate durability and usability.
