Planetary Play is a partnership with Fisher-Price that focuses on child development through environmental spaces. Planetary Play is a galaxy-themed environment that encourages children to improve gross motor skills like balancing, standing, and walking. Having the toy encompass an environment also helps the child engage with their imagination while also discovering new ways to play with the same toy.
Initial Concept Ideation
At the start of this project, I brainstormed 10 different concepts for the toy based on movement and sensory engagement.
Final Concept Choice
I ended up combining two of my first few concepts which were Rocket Rush and Planetary Pull. Rocket Rush focused on using a wall-mounted track to encourage walking while Planetary Pull focused on a "jungle gym" of sorts to encourage balance and stability. The final concept I pursued is called Planetary Play, and it combines the wall-mounted track with a moveable dynamic rocket and wall-mounted pieces that allow for different ways of play and development.
3d Models and Renders
This was 3D modeled in Fusion 360 and rendered in Keyshot.
Prototyping
To prototype my wall-mounted track and rocket, I made a T-track that included a 3d printed Scotch Yoke Mechanism. This mechanism takes rotational movement and turns it into linear movement. Using this concept, I used wheels, axles, and gears within the track and rocket to create the desired movement of fire going in and out of the rocket.
Final Prototype
Planetary Play is a toy that grows and develops along with a child starting at the age of one. One of the biggest needs a child has at this time is to learn and develop their physical dexterity, and this toy is specifically designed to help toddlers of all ages improve in this aspect. It is based on space with its track, rocket, planets, and stars. These space objects are attached to the wall to create an environment where the toy is a vehicle of the child’s imagination. The rocket is large and placed on a T-track so a child can hold on to it, walk with it, or even run with it along the path. To incite curiosity the fire inside the rocket moves back and forth as the child moves it along the track. The track can be set up on the wall in any orientation the parent wants and it can be changed as the child grows and is more physically able. In addition to this, there are planets and other space-related things that can be hung up on the wall to encourage a baby and toddler to stand and balance like Saturn with a ring that can be hung. The wall can be decorated with stars and anything else the parent desires as they know their child and their needs best. The toy can also have different sounds, textures, and lights. The toy itself would be made out of plastic and it would be easily assembled with the keyholes in the back of the planets and the holes in the track to drill into the wall with screws.
Process Poster
