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MY ROLE

Product designer, designing a toy from conception to delivery.

RESPONSABILITIES

Conduct research, ideate, design the product, make models, iterate on designs, make prototypes, create a presentation for the product.

THE GOAL

Design an innovative optical toy for children between ages 4 and 10.

Overview

During the year 2021, I pursued a postgraduate degree at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), specializing in the design of games, toys, and playful interfaces. As part of the program, one of the requirements was to conceive and develop an innovative toy or game.
For my project, I opted to design an optical game, and to bring this vision to life, I had the privilege of receiving the contribution from the exceptionally talented illustrator Carlos Persciarelli. Our joint efforts resulted in the creation of a captivating interactive optical game called Magic Spyglass (Catalejo Mágico). This enchanting game allows players to embark on a thrilling journey of discovering various monsters.

The user

The target users for this project were defined as children between the ages of 4 and 10. Kids this age have a natural curiosity and actively seek new experiences. They engage in imaginative play, using their creativity to explore different situations.

The goal

The goal of the project was to create an optical game that would allow interaction with the user, using color, transparency, movement and the free combination of pieces.

The game

We wanted to create an engaging adventure that encouraged exploration and the thrill of discovery.
The concept we presented involved a game where players could discover monsters using a spyglass, interchangeable transparent lenses with printed images and cards showcasing monsters to discover.

The narrative

Once upon a time, a renowned explorer named Captain Kikkert dedicated himself to uncovering hidden monsters inhabiting the planet. Equipped with the remarkable Magic Spyglass, he revealed countless extraordinary creatures. Now, the Magic Spyglass has come into your possession. Use the cards and special glasses to find the monsters Captain Kikkert discovered. But beware! Unlocking their secrets requires the right combination and lens adjustments.
Dare you embark on this quest of discovery?

Game components

The spyglass
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The game includes a spyglass to which the lenses are attached, allowing them to be combined in order to form the monsters.

The lenses to form the monsters
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To form the monsters, the kit includes lenses, which are transparent discs with translucent images printed on them.
In total, 20 lenses are included with: 5 hair variants, 5 mouth variants, 5 other facial features variants, and 5 face contours.

The cards
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The goal of the game is to find all 50 monsters that Captain Kikkert discovered. To achieve this, 50 monster cards are included.

How to play

Step 01
01. Take the deck of cards
Step 01
02. Choose a card
Step 01
03. Choose four lenses
Step 01
04. Place them in the Spyglass
Step 01
05. Look through the Spyglass
Step 01
06. Rotate the lenses to find the monster

The design process

We faced a tight schedule for this project. Therefore, we dedicated ourselves diligently to each stage of the process, ensuring that we would deliver a fully functional game prototype by the designated deadline. The process included activities such as creating drawings, building models, and conducting thorough testing on the prototypes.

Starting the ideation phase

Designing the spyglass
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Our decision was to adopt a design inspired by a spyglass, which would grant users the ability to generate images using color and transparency. Why did we choose a spyglass? This particular object invites us to embark on explorations, immersing ourselves in the quest for distant objects and encouraging adventure and discovery.
To kickstart our exploration, we embarked on creating an initial cardboard prototype. This model served as a foundation for conducting preliminary tests.

Light, color and transparency
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The inclusion of color, transparency, and light opens up a vast world of playful possibilities. We saw this as a chance to explore new gameplay experiences.
Then, in order to test the experience, we hand-drew various shapes on transparent plastic discs and mounted them on the end of the spyglass.

Movement
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Our aim was to create a dynamic and interactive experience, which led us to utilize circular disks. These disks enable users to rotate them and configure various images, enhancing the overall playful experience.

Refining the design

First prototype
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Following the completion of tests on the cardboard model, we assembled an initial plastic prototype. This involved creating a 3D model with Rhinoceros 3D software and subsequently utilizing a 3D printer to fabricate the components.

Seconnd prototype
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After carrying out tests on the first prototype, we proceeded with further design iterations. A second version of the Spyglass was created, utilizing plastic as the primary material for constructing the new model.

Outcome

Impact
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The Magic Spyglass received rave reviews and applause from the teachers and my fellow graduate students.
We achieved our initial goal, proposing an innovative game with a successful user experience that provokes surprise and invites creativity and imagination.

Next steps
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A new round of usability studies would be needed to evaluate the prototype and make the necessary improvements.

What I learned

Properly arranging the work phases from the outset is crucial in order to meet project deadlines. That is why establishing an initial schedule of stages holds great significance.
Moreover, teamwork plays a vital role in attaining superior outcomes by fostering discussions and ideation to iterate on designs and enhance the ultimate outcome.
Lastly, the process of designing for children was a highly rewarding and demanding journey that called for empathy and prioritizing the user as the ultimate focus of the product's design.