2015 Senior ID Studio I: Soft Toy Design

February 8, 2017 Senior Industrial Design Students Faculty: Melissa Dawson

Each student was responsible for designing a novel soft good toy appropriate for a child between the ages of birth and 10 years. Students were asked to pick a target age range and research the typical developmental milestones and interests of the chosen audience. As a class, several trips were made to The Strong’s Brian Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play to examine historical materials, design documents, and toy design prototypes.

Students constructed paper prototypes, drafted flat patterns, sewed multiple muslin samples, and ultimately produced final prototypes in appropriate fabrics and hard good materials. The semester culminated with an exhibition of final student prototypes at The Strong during the opening weekend of the Build! Drive! Go! exhibit in December 2015.

Co-taught with Lori Resch.

Photography Credit: Elizabeth Lamark