Poplar Wood, Food-grade Silicon, Foam | Each unit 24" approx. | 2015
either/or
a set of ambidextrous toys for toddlers
Left-handed people are a minority in number but they have been, and often still are, unnecessarily pathologized. They live in and adapt to a world that is designed for right-handed people by default. I think that the problems they face are man-made and can be removed through design that keeps all types of handedness in mind. Through my research I found that while grown-ups adapt, children who are still figuring out their handedness go through a lot of anxiety when they are pressured into using a particular hand for all activities.
This set of toys is designed to reduce anxiety amongst children who are figuring out their handedness by allowing them to follow their instincts without inhibition or correction. Each toy engages the hand in a different, imaginative way and strengthens dexterity. The handles and touch points are shaped such that children can hold them as easily with their left hand as with their right hand.
PROCESS
This was a three month-long project driven by intensive empathetic research including observation, interviews and secondary research, manifested through rounds of ideation, development, prototyping, and making.
Observation in visual scenarios + notes
Storyboards
Mind Map of Research Insights
Initial Ideation + Prototyping
An interactive toy with elements that encourage holding, touching, grabbing, pulling, pressing etc. so that a toddler's handedness may be revealed much earlier. The objective was to reduce a child's anxiety and make parents aware of the child's natural instincts.
Feedback + Questions
- Two of each kind might just encourage using both hands, thus not revealing a hand preference.
- This idea requires too much instruction and intervention from the parents. This increases inhibition.
- What form would a more self-directed and exploratory object take?
- What is the purpose of the design once instincts have been realized? How can it continue to be a great toy for play regardless?
Secondary research + Inspiration
Observation + Interviews
Elliot: 1, uses both hands but left dominant
Sophie: 4, right-handed
Allison (babysitter): left-handed
- Parents dont do any serious monitoring of development, unless something is visibly wrong. "Instinct finding" seems too intense.
- Allison consciously switches her hands to not bias Elliot's hand preference. He uses his left hand first usually, unless it is more convenient to use his right hand.
- They prefer more simple and open-ended toys such as wooden blocks, and according to Allison those engage their hands the most. Elliot loves holding, giving, picking up, and putting things back into a box or bag.
Ideation + Development
Fabrication
