Eggventure: A Journey Through Habitats
"Eggventure: A Journey Through Habitats" is an innovative toy that blends 3D-printed animal figures with laser-cut habitats, offering children an engaging and educational experience that fosters creativity and storytelling.
Client
Young Children (4-8 years old)
Miao Miao - Our interviewee & primary client
Parents and Educators
Project Completion:
03/18/2024
Learning Solution:
Multifaceted toy combining 3D-printed elements and laser-cut designs
Engages children in creative play, storytelling, and learning about animals and habitats
Technologies:
3D Printing
Laser Cutting
CoralDraw
Adobe
Skills:
Digital Fabrication
Visual Design
Learning Design
Through an insightful interview with Miao Miao and her mother, we discovered Miao Miao’s fascination with eggs, animals, painting, and creating rules. Inspired by her unique interests, our team and I envisioned a toy that could combine these passions while providing an educational experience. That's how the idea of "Eggventure: A Journey Through Habitats" was born.
Prototyping
Our prototyping journey for "Eggventure: A Journey Through Habitats" was an exhilarating blend of creativity and problem-solving. We began with the 3D printing of the egg container, which presented an initial challenge with a daunting print time of 1 day and 5 hours. Seeking advice from the community on Slack, we explored alternative materials like clay and paper mache but ultimately decided to proceed with the 3D print. Our persistence paid off, and the result was a beautifully textured and functional egg container, perfect for housing our animal figures.
Next, we focused on printing the animal figures, which brought its own set of challenges. We encountered a tail-less crocodile and a headless penguin along the way, but these setbacks only pushed us to refine our process.
Then we worked on cutting the habitat scenes from wood. We discovered that lines thinner than 0.5pts would cut through the wood entirely, leading us to adjust the line weight to ensure proper engraving. To complete the prototype, we designed a storage box for the habitat cards. Our initial prototype using 3mm wood lacked stability, prompting us to consider using 6mm wood or increasing the slot count for a tighter joint. Each step of the prototyping process was a valuable learning experience, driving us to innovate and improve continuously.
Reflection
"Eggventure" has been a testament to my skills in learning design and user experience, transforming Miao Miao's unique interests into a dynamic, educational toy. The prototyping phase was a test of resilience, from overcoming 3D printing challenges to refining laser-cut designs. Each setback, like the tail-less crocodile and headless penguin, fueled innovation and problem-solving.
This project underscores my belief in the transformative power of well-designed educational tools. By combining technology with interactive elements, we created a toy that not only entertains but also educates. Witnessing Miao Miao's joy as she interacted with "Eggventure" affirmed the impact of thoughtful design in fostering creativity and learning. This project reflects my passion for creating inclusive, tech-driven educational experiences that inspire young minds.
