PRODUCT DESIGN FOR CHILDREN By: Austin Holmes Nick Smartt Peter Cala Chengsi Chen

TARGET PRODUCT: SELECT THE SHAPES Our team, the Fantastic Four, selected this product because we wanted to improve all aspects of the product, including safety, entertainment, and durability.

MISSION STATEMENT Mission Statement: Select the Shape Product Description A table designed for children, ages 0-3, with color coded shapes that can only fit in one hole on the table. Key Business Goals Develop a child’s understanding of shapes and colors. Start learning at a very young age. (0-3 years old) Primary Market Parents that have children in the specified age group. Fathers/Mothers make the purchase, not the child. Secondary market The children themselves, who will be using the product. Assumptions Large, heavy enough so the child cannot pick it up, easy-to-use, childproof, entertaining, colorful. Stakeholders Children, adults, fathers, mothers, toddlers, other children interacting.

CUSTOMER NEED IDENTIFICATION

GROUPCUSTOMER STATEMENTINTERPRETED NEEDIMP Typically Uses “This product is great for developing young minds.” The “select the shape” is helpful for children (age between 0~3) to develop their mind. 5 “This is a great idea to start the learning process at such a young age.” The “select the shape” help children (age between 0~3) start learning. 5 “I think this product will better the children.” The “select the shape” is a specific learning toy for children (age between 0~3) 5 “Shapes seem so simple, yet it helps them learn.” The “select the shape” is easy for children (age between 0~3) to play and learn. 3 “The Select the Shapes game is an ingenious design that will help further the learning of young children, when they are in such a learning state where they observe and try to make sense of everything. To be able to take advantage of this period of time allows the child to somewhat get a hold of what they are doing.” The “select the shapes” teach children (age between 0~3) to know what they are doing when they are in a basic level of observing and learning. 5 “My newborn would love to get his hands on this.” The “select the shape” engage children (age between 0~3) to play. 3

Suggested Expectation “At the age this product is designed for, the children can learn an absorb so much.”. The “select the shape” help children (age between 0~3) to absorb many knowledge 5 “Not only does it teach the children about shapes, it teaches the about the learning process.” The “select the shape” teach children (age between 0~3) about shapes and learning process. 5 “Through testing each shape, they learn and remember what should go where.” The “select the shape” teach children (age 0~3) to learn shape and remember where shapes belong to. 5 “Even though it may take them some time to grasp the concepts of shapes and how they are and what they are, it will eventually click in their brains, and they will remember that.” The “select the shape” offer a way for children (age between 0~3) to learn the concepts of shapes and keep it into brain permanently. 5

Suggested Expectation “My concern with this product is that it is not safe for all children, such as the pieces may be too small and the edges are too sharp.” This “select the shape” is safe 4 “Will the table and pieces be able to withstand the abuse of child play?” This “the select of the shape” is easy to hand one 3 “I am concerned that there will be some difficulty for my child to learn.” This “select of the shape” is easy to play 3 “Shapes seem so simple, yet it helps them learn.” This “select of the shape” is simple3 DISLIKE “The product doesn’t seem like my child would enjoy it, or be entertained.” This “select of the shape” comes with multiple colors and adorable pictures 3

NEED-METRICS MATRIX

NO Metrics Need Six colors (red, green, blue, yellow, purple, and brown Animals pictures No sharp edges Size(60x24x 20) Weight 3 pounds Made by wood 5 types of shape including circle, triangle, square, rectangle and star 1 The “select the shape” is helpful for children (age between 0~3) to develop their mind. 2 The “select the shape” help children (age between 0~3) start learning. 3 The “select the shape” is a specific learning toy for children (age between 0~3) 4 The “select the shape” is easy for children (age between 0~3) to play and learn. 5The “select the shapes” teach children (age between 0~3) to know what they are doing when they are in a basic level of observing and learning.

6 The “select the shape” engage children (age between 0~3) to play. 7 The “select the shape” help children (age between 0~3) to absorb many knowledge 8 The “select the shape” teach children (age between 0~3) about shapes and learning process. 9 The “select the shape” teach children (age 0~3) to learn shape and remember where shapes belong to. 10The “select the shape” offer a way for children (age between 0~3) to learn the concepts of shapes and keep it into brain permanently.

11 This “select the shape” is safe 12 This “the select of the shape” is easy to hand one 13 This “select of the shape” is easy to play 14 This “select of the shape” is simple 15This “select of the shape” comes with multiple colors and adorable pictures

BENCHMARKING

BENCHMARKING TABLE criteriaMelissa & Doug Shape Sorting CubePlayskool Busy Basics Form Fitter Size (inch)5.5x5.5x5.5 inch7.6x5.7x5.6 inch Weight (pound) 1.4 pounds2 pounds Colors44 Types of Shapes 1215 MaterialsWoodPlastic

FINAL SPECIFICATIONS Metric No.Need No.MetricUnits Marginal Value Ideal Value 1 1 Six colors (red, green, blue, yellow, purple, and brown with animals pictures Colors number >45 2 2,5 No sharp edges big size (10x8x4 inch) Light and not easy to be broken by hands or dropping(2 pounds) Made by wood Inch pounds Length>5 Wide>5 Height> 5 Weight>1.5pounds 10x10x5 inch 2pounds 3 2,3,45 types of shape including circle, triangle, square, rectangle and star Types >58

CONCEPT SCREENING

Selection Criteria Safe to use Easy to play with Easy to learn CostDurability Sum 0/ Sum 1/ Sum -1 Net score/ Rank Continue? (Y or N) Concept Curve shapes /2/ Y 6 x6 cm Size of Shapes /2/ Y Glass shapes 000 0/0/ N Drawer /1/ Y 66x24x20 Size of Product /1/ Y Color Coated /1/ Y Letter on Each Block /1/ Y Wheel 02000/2/ Y

Colorful (entire product) /1/ Y Variety of Shapes 01100/2/ Y Music Box 01100/1/ Y Curve Corner /2/ Y Touch Screen 011 0/2/ N Less than 5 shapes 00100/1/ N Bumps on Tech Block and Hole 11000/2/ Y Material - Plastic 001 0/1/-2 18 N Flat Face /2/ Y Material- Wood /1/ Y Sharp corners 00 0/0/ N

FINAL SELECTED CONCEPTS

Selection Criteria Safe to useEasy to play withEasy to learnFun to play withDurability Total Score Order Weight 25%20%15%20% Concepts Rating Weighted Score Rating Weighted Score Rating Weighted Score Rating Weighted Score Rating Weighted Score Curve x6cm Size of Shapes Bumps on Tech Block and Hole Drawer x24x20 Size of Product Color Coated Letter on Each Block Wheel Colorful (entire product) Variety of Shapes Music Box Curve Corner Flat Face Material - Wood

FINAL SKETCH

Uniqueness  Our product offers many different shapes for the children to play with.  There is a great deal of variety with shape, color, and size.  It helps children (0-3 years of age) learn about shapes, while keeping it safe and simple.  Our product as an easily accessible drawer that will catch all the shapes as they fall through the designated whole. Pros and Cons  Pros:  Offers many shapes  Safe for children to use  Easy to learn  Easy storage of shapes  Durable  Cons:  Very large  Takes up a lot of space when trying to store  Heavy  Lacks engagement features (such as a music box/player)

PROTOTYPING