Switch-it-Up Trucks
Because underestimating a child’s ability to be the hero is a bad idea.
Vehicles for preschoolers are typically either designed for one use or follow the design aesthetic of building blocks. My goal was to create a realistic looking wheeled toy that would promote creative play through free-form reconfiguration.
Research and Insights
Target Age: 3-6
At this age they have started group play as well as acting out careers they see and learn about at school and on television. They are also developing fine motor skills and learning how to match shapes and detect patterns.
Toy Association’s 2014 Toy Trends
Nostalgia
Construction
On-the-Go
The Opportunity
Static Play
or
Block Form
Construction toys that allow customization and personalized play have the ability to reflect a child's unique personality. Although this style of play has become increasingly popular, vehicle design has mostly remained stagnant. While several brands of interlocking building blocks exist that children can use to make their own creations, these vehicles still have the bland design aesthetic of building blocks. In addition, other vehicle toys for preschoolers are typically designed to be static with few play features.
Inspiration
I found some inspiration from other toys, such as Clump-o-Lumps, as well as the book “The Mix and Match Book of Dinosaurs” which I loved as a child.
Ideation
User Testing
I created two truck prototypes which were tested by a kindergarten class of four and five-year-old children. The children enjoyed customizing their trucks and creating imaginative scenarios in which to use them. They also liked adding their own action figures to go with their newly configured customized trucks. One realization I made from the user testing was that in order to make the product more robust, I needed to ensure that the parts could not fit together in the wrong direction.
Build
Imagine
Share
Save the day
Final Concept
My final concept was a series of three vehicles: a fire truck, a construction truck, and a tow truck. Each had interchangeable sections, each with their own unique play features. This product encouraged children to use their imaginations to create their own unique vehicle. that works within their own imaginations. Switch-It-Up Trucks also promoted collaborative play and the cooperative exchange of different truck segments at an age when children are first beginning to create their own social groups.
Ultimately I was able to create a highly interactive toy that allows for children to design their own trucks and build their own stories.