STUDIO II - TERM PROJECT HENRY MURILLO
Henry Murillo
A walk through the development of a toy directed towards children
Spring 2015
with disabilities. The focus is the
Jim Agutter
importance of fine motor skills &
Studio II
how to aid it’s development.
STUDIO II - TERM PROJECT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
RESEARCH Understanding
1
2
The Focus
Market
3
Statements
4
EXPLORATION
Concept + Age
5
Sketches
6
Size
7
8
Material + Finish
FINAL ITERATION Product
9
10
Sketches + Render
YOO
11
Branding + Packaging
12
Manufacturing Flow
13
Business Model
14
U N D E R S T A N D I N G
T H E
N E E D S
Information regarding physical disabilities was provided by Heidi in her visit to the University. Her line of work focuses is in physical disadvantages and rehabilitation of children with motor skills (Dyspraxia) disabilities. Her input came from what she saw the children needed, the things that are most helpful and make an impact in their quest. Her focus in mobility is her main concern, and it made me think about taking this route. She insisted on dumping and filling situations as well as a toy that sort of does it all. Our visit to Kauri School offered a inside look at what these instructors have to work with each day. There was so much material and equipment that you would think the school had pretty much everything covered, form toys to activities, but is wasn’t the case. What stood out for me was these teachers having to improvise some of the equipment (toys). There was a scenario where kids have a hard time letting go of the ball/tossing it, so one of the instructors had to come up with an idea on how to encourage kids to let go of the ball. Instructors insisted on a toy that has been improvised by them as well as something that does several things. Also, containers.
1
Understanding
2
D Y S P R A X I A Motor difficulty refers to problems with movement and coordination whether it is with fine motor skills or gross motor skills like running. A motor disability is sometimes referred to as an “output� activity meaning that it relates to the output of information from the brain. In order to run, jump, write, cut something, the brain must be able to communicate with the necessary body parts to complete the action. Signs children might have a motor coordination disability include problems with physical abilities that require hand-eye coordination, like holding a pencil or buttoning a shirt.
Lights, sound, textures, actions and cause & effect are concepts to keep in mind.
The Focus
U N D E R S T A N D I N G T H E
M A R K E T
Wile the availability of adaptive toys is appreciated, they are often too expensive. An adaptive Tickle Me Elmo costs around $150.00 USD, while the unadapted version costs $25.00 USD. While it is a small market, the reasons are fairly obvious: adaptive toys are not mass-produced and there is much more work that goes into making them.
R E G U L A R
A D A P T I V E
T O Y
T O Y $ 19.99
$ 53.99
3
$ 89.00
Market
$ 44.95
Dado Planks seems to look like a regular toy but it isn’t catered to the masses, hence the $44.95 USD price tag. While something like Mega Blocks cost $19.99 USD, but it’s catered towards the masses, which means the production is massed produced. Mega Blocks are also something you can market.
4
S T A T E M E N T S P R O B L E M The lack of toys where one toy does several activities, to keep the child entertained. Also, there seems to be a copious amount of plastic toys, which caretakers seem to dislike. Hence the specific market, these toys are overpriced. Instructors are having to pay big on most of the equipment because of it’s tailor-made style that suits the targeted audience.
O P P O R T U N I T Y Using natural materials instead of plastic can be a key component in developing a toy these days; specially regarding children’s development. Prices can be evaluated and re-thought. Adaptive toys aren’t mass-produced, there is extra work that goes into making them due to certain specifications.
Statements
E X P L O R A T I O N C O N C E P T
1 8
The focus will be towards fine motor skills. The main goal is to produce a recreation of the classic building blocks by simplifying the idea, where the set of blocks are the same shape and create a connecting system.
Children can walk alone and pick toys up without falling over at the age of 2 years old. They can also build towers of 4 to 6 cubes. Other stages of development are:
This connecting system would include different sizes, where they all correlate and align with each other.
BALANCE ON A FOOT
GRASP LARGE CRAYONS
THROW LARGE OBJECTS
CLIMB ON CHAIRS
TURN DOORKNOBS
CLIMB THE STAIRS
Through the use of color, each gradient would describe a certain texture, both visually and physically; vise-versa.
5
Concept + Age
T O
2 4
M O N T H S
6
Sketches
H A N D
S I Z E
The average hand size for a two year old child is about 3.25 in from wrist to the tip of the fingers and width is about 2.5 in. This means the palm is about 2.5 inches. I purposely made the block 2 in x 6 in, this way children can palm the cube on the side and use their fingers to grip it. Children would be challenged by having to use their fingers to grab a block with one hand, but if this action is a work in progress, there is a challenge where they will need to find a way to pick it up. The palm-size sides of the block give an indication to use both hands to grip with their palms.
7
Size
8
W O O D R E D
&
F I N I S H
O A K
S H E L L A C
48 lbs. (Per Cut)
No Odor & Safe
CHEAP
COMMONLY USED
Materials + Finish
P R O D U C T A connecting system in which all blocks interlock with each other, as well as the ability to stack them, just like building-blocks. The idea is to keep true to the classic wooden blocks with an addition to focus in the development of fine motor skills. Each block is connected via magnets to allow children the ability to interact with the block prior to the use of all of them together, which is the actual activity. This offers an extra step prior to the activity of building and/or stacking them on top of each other, even interlocking them together. Each set will come with six blocks, and each block is composed of three pieces held together by magnets, as mentioned.
9
Product
10
Sketches + Render
11
YOO
12
12:00 PM
iPad
Back
100%
Done
Yoo Wooden Blocks
B R A N D I N G
P A C K A G I N G
Branding + Packaging
M A N U F A C T U R I N G THE WOOD
GLUING & CUTTING
MAGNETS
Oak
Glue two oak boards together
Purchase from BYKES Technologies through Amazon
Purchased at Home Depot through their “Bulk Price” program 1-1/2 in. x 1-1/2 in. x 2.5 ft.
DRILL
Drilling into the cubes to place magnets and dowels in Using a drill press for accurate results 1/2 in bit Place magnet in cube, add wood glue and then place the dowel piece on top Sand out the excess pieces
13
Cut the glued boards with a table saw or a ban saw into 2 in. x 2 in. x 2 in. blocks Cut one of the blocks in half. should be 2 in. x 1 in. x 2 in. with a ban saw
1/2 in. x 1/8 in. These magnets will be placed inside the cubes and half cubes
DOWELS
Oak dowels Purchase at Home Depot through their “Bulk Price” program Cut dowels into 1/4 in. pieces This will seal the magnets that are placed inside the cubes and half cubes
ROUTER
PAINT
FINISH
A router is used is used to round corners
Tape blocks on sanded and curved sides
Apply Satin Clear Enamel (one coat)
1/4 in. bit
Apply flat Primer (two coats)
Apply Shellac (two coats)
Apply paint (one unit consist of two blocks and one half block held together by magnets)
This is the final step
A color per unit (two coats)
Manufacturing Flow
14
B U S I N E S S
M O D E L
KEY ACTIVITIES
CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP
Building Blocks
Partners and distribution channels
Fine Motor Skills
Distribution channels’ weekly ads
Some Physics
PARTNER NETWORK
OFFER
Retail Stores
Blocks which help develop fine motor skills in children ages 18 months to 24 months
Schools Rehabilitation Institutions
Website
CUSTOMER SEGMENTS Children 18 to 24 months Both, boys and girls
KEY RESOURCES
DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS
Purchasing materials in bulk
Target
Appealing to the parents
Wal-Mart
Distribution channels
Toys R’ Us
Partners
Amazon
COST STRUCTURE
REVENUE STATEMENT
Lower prices on materials can be accessed through bulk purchases.
Revenue is brought through it’s distribution channels thanks to their partnership. Since this product is aimed towards the masses, marketing should be able to bring in revenue as well.
Business Model
Henry Murillo Spring 2015 Jim Agutter Studio II