Toy Design
Overview
This project compromised of designing two children toys: one toy truck and one portable addition/subtraction game. Both toys were designed in SolidWorks and relied entirely on mechanical systems for operation.
Team
Taya Voronko
Role
Product Designer
Timeline
4 weeks
Tools
SolidWorks
Math Toy
How can we use toys and playtime to teach kids basic addition and subtraction?
The Challenge
Design an educational toy that teaches kids (ages 3-6) how to add and subtract single digits (from 0 to 9).
This challenge also had a few design constraints:
Must be made of non-toxic materials
Cannot break when stepped on, dropped, bitten, or pulled on by small child
No small, loose, or sharp parts
Manufacturability for high volume
Portable, e.g. easy to pack up and take in the car
Must be fully mechanical: no electrical parts, no magnets
How It Works
The Toy features two number lines: the first visible on the top wheel and the second hidden on the tabs underneath. The user spins the top wheel to expose the first number of their equation in the viewing window. Then, they slide the tab that corresponds to the number being added/subtracted. The slider pushes out a tab with the correct sum of the equation.
For example, for the equation 5 + 6 = 11, the user spins the top wheel to expose “5” in the viewing window. Then, they slide the “+6” slider, which pushes out the tab labeled “11”. The user can also slide any of the other sliders to reveal the answers to those equations. For example, the user can push all the sliders forward to see every combination of 5 +/- another number.
Key Features
Colors - Bright colors attract and engage young kids.
Portable - This toy can easily be stowed in a backpack, tote bag, or car seat-back pocket.
Moving Parts - The sliders, top wheel, and tab all move to keep kids active.
Interactive - The toy is designed to encourage kids to engage with the math they’re learning.
Handheld - The 12” toy can easily fit in a child’s hands or lap.
Element of Surprise - Before kids have mastered the toy, there is an element of surprise as to which number will appear.
Toy Truck
A classic dump truck for playtime.
The Challenge
Design a toy truck based off of a toy currently on the market.
This challenge also had a few design constraints:
Must be made of non-toxic materials
Cannot break when stepped on, dropped, bitten, or pulled on by small child
No small, loose, or sharp parts
Manufacturability for high volume
Must be fully mechanical: no electrical parts, no magnets
Key Features
Colors - Bright colors attract and engage young kids.
Manufacturability - HDPE Injection Molded parts are inexpensive and can be manufactured repeatedly.
Moving Parts - The wheels and truck bed move to keep kids active.
Interactive - The moving parts allow children to engage with the toy during playtime.