Design Task

There has been a growing interest in these toys of recent driven by exposure from movies like Hugo or a resurgence in European wooden toys.

To design and produce a prototype/s of a child’s toy that utilises aspects of mechanical motion and is environmentally friendly based on the product design and marketing specifications included.

Product Design Specifications

Performance

• It will encourage the child develop new skills such as hand & eye coordination, learning letters, etc.
  • Should include mechanisms that provide various movements.
  • Durable to withstand a drop or roughplay.

Ergonomics

• The overall size of the toy will is constrained to 300 X 300 X 200 mms so a small child can handle it.
• The shape and selected features depend on the child’s hand.

Aesthetics

• Available in a range of colours to stimulate the child.
• Smooth edges so it feels nice and reduces risk of splinters.
• Simple design.

Materials

• Made from recycled material.
• Can be easily recycled when the toy is no longer needed.
• Ease of manufacture to reduce costs.

Manufacture

● Design for disassembly so parts can be replaced and promote ‘kit style’ toy.

Maintenance

• Easily cleaned since toys will get handled and sometimes with toddlers placed in their mouths.

Safety Considerations.

• Non-toxic materials.
• No sharp edges.
• No chance of jamming fingers.
• Complies with American and EU safety standards.
• All of the above are to reduce harm to the child and parent.

Environment Considerations.

• Uses green design principles.
• Is gentle on the environment.
• Non-toxic.
• In order to appeal to environmentally cognizant buyer.

Cost Constraints

• The overall cost is not to exceed 25 USD to keep competitive withsimilar products.

Target Market
● Young children and parents who like automated wooden toys.

● Parents who would like a toy that needs little parental supervision and direction so at times they can concentrate other important activities.

Target Audience
● The main market is for young toddlers aged 3 and above.
● The capability of it being more complex as a child gets older (i.e.kit form) thus extending the product life span and maintaining the child’s interest.

User need

be amused and play on their own.
● Mechanical toys exist but there are not many that are

environmentally considerate and are in kit form so to cater to different levels of developmental growth.

• Grading will be on criteria C&D.
• Topics addressed – 1, 3, 4, 6
• Timeline – up to internal deadlines