Sandsplash — play design
2022
This group project (3 people) started with a brief to create a (partly) physical design for play object(s) made of ceramic.
Having ceramics as a requirement created a challenge for design, as it is not a typical material for modern toys. That required finding a strategy for design, where the material’s characteristics would not compromise, but enhance the desired play’s qualities.
After researching play theory and rounds of conceptualisation phases, using a variety of methods: criminal round (Heijne & Meer, 2019), character types. We have formulated a design goal, which was to design a toy made from ceramics that encourages constructive play, by letting children from the age of 7 to 10 explore their surroundings during outdoor play.
group project
research and design
play theory
play evaluation
types of play
play phases
personality types
The play properties of the product were evaluated during 2 play sessions with both introverted and extroverted children. The session had a goal to evaluate whether design supports transition through different play phases: exploration, function, variation, and integration, but also measure the fun caused by play. As part of the research risk factors were analysed. As a part of the evaluation feedback from children was collected to improve the play.
The toy is designed to fit best the needs of extraverted children aged 7-10, as they enjoy free play outdoors (Sharp et al., 2018) and constructive play (Storli & Sandseter, 2019).
The final concept consists of a multifunctional piece, which supports variability during constructive play.
