ASSIGNMENT: Design a bath toy for children betweent he ages of 2 and 4 to only be used in the bath. Avoid common stereotypes concerned with other toys on the market, such as cheap and plastic parts. Focus on the types of play and how the child interacts with both the toy and possibly the parent or a sibling.
First I researched the physical traits and limitations of children within the ages 2-4 and focused specifically on fine motor skills.
Types of Play
Concept Models based on Type of Play 1
Attaches to the wall and water is poured over top.
Child holds the toy by the handle and scoops the water to cause the spinners to spin.
Last concept focuses on narrative play through the boat form and allows the child to push it on top of the water to cause the paddlewheel on the back to spin.
Revised model incorporates a funnel and tube shape to control the flow of water over the spinners.
A character was added to the model to increase the narrative play value. The model was made into a pelican. Eyes and wings were ideated into the model. Above is a photoshop rendering.
Final Blue Foam Model
The final form had major changes to the eyes and spinners. Several sets of eyes were made from amt board and are interchangeable. The spinners were rounded to fit to the concavity of the tube and the wings were lowered to give the model 3 resting points. A handle was added between the beak and the end of the tube was rounded for safety.
Pink Foam Model Process
Renshape was attached to a faceplate and put on the wood lathe to carve the beak and next shape.
The inside was carved out on the drill press with decresing sizes of forstner bits.
The rest of the inside was shaped with a file. The body was vacuum formed from styrene over a piece of renshape then holes for the axels were drilled. The spinners were carved directly from renshape.
The pieces were sanded then attached and primed with several coats of primer.
Spinners and axels were painted separately ad attached afterwards.
Final Product
