the sea star
DESCRIPTION
Jordan Jackson's senior Industrial Design thesis.TRANSCRIPT
Sea Starthe
Jordan JacksonSenior Thesis 2011
This book is dedicated to:
JamieJoby
AriannaStryderLiam
and
all the
otherbeachbumsout
there
thesis statement
ethnographic research
initial brainstorming
moving forward
final concept
appendix
table of contents7
8-29
30-35
36-43
44-53
54-63
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7
Thesis StatementTo design a product for children ages 5 to 8 that empowers them to carry their own toys, relieving stress from their parents.
Ethnographic Research
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Title: SubtitleTitle: Subtitle
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It is not to be wondered that men have worshiped the ocean,for in his depths they have seen mirrored the image of Eternity--
of Infinity.
Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915)
Personal Experience
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I grew up in Virginia Beach with my 5 younger siblings, so I have had a lot of experience with beach toys. Many days, me and my siblings would leave our toys at home because we didn’t have an easy way to carry them.
Buyer Profile: Parents
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Marketing to Parents
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5 keys to marketing to parents according to business knowledge source:
1. Parents think for their children.2. Education excites parents while giving them comfort that their child is not wasting their time with your product.3. You must assure them your product is safe and cannot become violent4. parents want low cost, good deals when buying for their children5. try to market the product as a family oriented one - encouraging interaction between the parent and child.
safe
cheap
educational
interactive
User Profile: Children
Children, ages 5 to 8, are interested in hands-on activities. They are energetic, cheerful and enthusiastic.
They have short attention spans, and enjoy toys that can be used many different ways.
The most popular toys of all time, including Legos, Barbie and Naef, strongly encourage creativity.
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Age 5
39.4 lbs
43.2-44.7”
4.7” HAND
10.4”
chai
r he
ight
5.0” HAND
Age 645.2-45.4”
10.4”
chai
r he
ight
44.0 lbs
These school-age children have increased focus and begin to rely on their logic and reasoning. In addition, they can cooperate in large group
play, enjoy creating arts and crafts, and enhance pretend play by incorporating roles and rules for playmates. Their imaginations continue to
flourish, active play expands with larger bodies, and reading and writing receive greater focus.
ages 5 to 6
User Profile: Anthropometrics & Psychology
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5.2” HAND
Age 747.5-48.2”
12.0”
chai
r he
ight
50.4 lbs
5.4” HAND
Age 850.2-50.3”
12.0”
chai
r he
ight
56.1 lbs
These children continue to enjoy cooperative and social play, incorporating children’s versions
of adult sports and outdoor activities. More advanced construction play is also a great
addition! In addition, 7 and 8 year olds also begin to recognize skill and strategy, playing board games and other games that increase planning and thought and develop logical thinking skills.
ages 7 to 8
Montessori School of Virginia
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In order to better understand my user group, I visited the Montessori School of Virginia and interviewed 8 children, 2 students from each age in my user group. They drew 2 pictures for me: something to play with, and something to sit on (at the beach.)
Jake, age 6, drew a towel that has designated spaces for his friends and family. He added extra spaces for the friends he would meet while playing on the beach. Meeting new friends is something children really look forward to on beach days.
Amy, age 5, drew a toy that was shaped like an octopus, and if you jumped on it you would end up surfing in the water. She also added dots, saying that the dots could be drawn by the kid using it. Encouraging creativity is key to a successful toy.
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Product Dissection: Children’s Beach Chair
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The umbrella protects the sensitive skin of the child. It is the only real difference between a kid’s beach chair and an adult’s beach chair, other than size.
The form does not make it easy for the child to carry on their own.
The cheap, lightweight frame tends to tip over in the sand and rust.
There is no storage space for the child’s toys, snacks, or towels.
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Inflatable floats are easily popped, and rarely last throughout the summer.
Sea creature forms are popular because they are fun and friendly.
Large floats are difficult for the child to carry to the beach while inflated.
Floats usually do not serve any other purpose than to float.
Children’s Float
Product Dissection: Shovel
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Bucket
Antique CheapTrendy
Common beach shovels are designed for cheap production, not for digging. Stress at the connection of the handle and the head is evident before it’s even used.
Vintage buckets were made of metal. Although they rusted in the water, they had unique graphics on them that made them fun for girls and boys alike. Current plastic buckets do not rust or sink in the water, but they have lost the quality and fun found in their predecessors.
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Sand Castle Molds
Current sand castle molds usually take a medieval form.The major components of a successful sand castle are the bridge and the tower.
Sand Sifters
The edges of cheap plastic are sharp and uncomfortable.
Current sand sifters generally have tiny handles that are rarely ergonomic.
Interviews: Beach Parents
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I interviewed 6 couples, and 2 fathers that live by the beach.
Most children sit on a towel or a blanket. If they sit on a chair, it’s usually their parent’s not their own.
“It would be great for them to carry their own toys/objects to the beach. It can teach them a little bit of responsibility and planning.”
What does your child bring to the beach?
100% of parents interviewed help their children carry their toys.
towel / blanket
chair
sand
snackstowel
boogieboard
chair
float
frisbeemolds bucket
shovel
Without access to a large number of 5-8 year olds to survey, I sent out a survey to people who have grown up by the beach asking them to dig into their memories and answer a few questions.
Survey: Nostalgia (36 participants)
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What did you sit on?
towel
What was your favorite beach toy?
bucket
shovel
How did you carry your toys?
big beach
bag
parents
What did you do on the beach?
sandcastles
water
play
ing
in t
he w
ater
build
ing
sand
cas
tles
colle
ctin
g se
ashe
lls
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The beach aesthetic incorporates bold colors and natural iconography. Sunshine, waves, and swirls of color.
These images are mostly taken from surf art, popular beach inspired art commonly found on the back of surfboards.
Trends: Beach Aesthetics
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Popular surf brands, such as Volcom and WRV, incorporate this beach aesthetic into clothing and surf products. They are heavily involved in the local art scene, and are always keeping up with the latest beach trends.
Children’s products tend to mimic adult products, lending to the idea that children prefer to copy their parents. Bold geometric patterns and colored gradients are often used. Tie dye is a classic and universally accepted beach aesthetic.
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Design Criteria
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physical criteriacommunication criteria
regulatory criteria
aesthetic criteria
MANDITORY:waterprooflight-weightdurablesafe
DESIRABLE:texturedcolorful organic
MANDITORY:simple connectionsrelation to toys
DESIRABLE:encourage collaborationencourage creativitybeachy
DESIRABLE:playfulbeachyuseful simplelight
MANDITORY:safety
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I looked for form inspiration in the natural, organic forms of sea shells. My professor, Bill Green, allowed me to examine and photograph his extensive shell collection.
Form Inspiration
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Most prefabricated sand castle molds take on a medieval castle form, rather than an organic beachy form. Castles made by hand tend to have a less rigid form. This organic form gives off a fun, relaxed feeling that fits well on the beach. I took inspiration from these naturally organic forms when designing my toys.
Initial Brainstorming
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It is perhaps a more fortunate destinyto have taste for collecting
shells than to be born a millionaire.
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894)
Initial Brainstorming
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Many concepts centered around the idea of a beach mat wrapping around toys to become a backpack. Some incorporated a “sand-bag” chair to sit on, and many played with the classic “running away from home” form.
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After some initial brainstoming, I realized that in order to move forward I would have to figure out which toys I planned on having this thing carry, and just how big those toys would be.
Toy Iteration
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The toy I was most interested in designing was the sand castle mold. I focused on developing simple, organic forms that would allow the child to “design their own” sand castle. By separating the tower and the bridge, I encourage the child to arrange them how they please, designing a new castle every time.
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Design Decisions: Bucket & Sifter
The bucket and sifter become the main container for the toys - a base which I could design my float around. The sifter attaches to the top of the bucket, allowing the child to shake the sand out of their toys before leaving. The clear bucket is useful not only to the child, but also for the parent to make sure they aren’t taking home any beach critters.
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Moving Forward
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One cannot collectall the beautiful shells on the beach.
One can collect only a few,and they are more beautiful if they are
few.
Anne Morrow Lindbergh(1906-2001)
The Sea Star
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I took inspiration from Amy’s Octopus (see page 15) and began designing a float reminiscent of a lily pad, with “petals” that fold up around the bucket.
I experimented with tesselations, and had to move into small scale models to get a sense of what this looked like in 3D.
Production Process
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The Sea Staris stamped from
a sheet of expanded polyetheline foam.
The production process helped shape the final
form. The shape is derived from a hexagon, making it a tesselation, which minimizes the waste of material. The process of stamping a tesselation is great for mass production, and the material used is cheap and durable.
Small Scale Model
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The final form incorporates 4 powerful rare earth magnets on each arm, allowing for many different configurations.
The magnetic connections are simple enough for a 5 year old, and will release if under too much pressure in the water - preventing the child from getting stuck and drowing. The Sea Star wraps around the bucket and sifter, creating a flower like “bud” pack. A single strap serves as the water leash and the backpack strap, allowing the child to carry their toys to and from the beach while leaving their hands free.
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Final Concept
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Bouyed by water,he can fly in any direction--
up, down, sideways--by merelyflipping his hand.
Under water, man becomesan archangel.
Jacques-Yves Cousteau (1910-1997)
Exploded View
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The rim of the sifter is made of durable silicone - it rolls up and over the rim of the bucket.
The clear bucket is made of low density polyethylene.
A textured layer gives grip while the child is playing in the water while also coating the magnets to prevent them from rusting.
The strap moves freely between the two layers of foam that sandwich it. One end is a silicone ring, and the other is a velcro wrist strap. This design allows it to double as a leash so the child wont loose the float while playing in the water.
The base layer is stamped from a sheet of expanded polyethylene foam. 24 rare earth magnets are embedded into the “arms” for a simple connection.
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The soft rubber rim of the s
ifter rolls up and over the
bucket,
creating a simple connection with no moving parts.
The Bucket and Sifter
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The clear bucket allows the parent t
o
check what their child is taking home
from the beach before leaving. It is
also fun for the child, letting them
look at the critters
and shells they
have collected throughout the day.
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Appendix
Summer afternoon -- summer afternoon;to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English
language.
Henry James (1843-1916)
Nostalgia Survey Results
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Questions: 1. What was your favorite beach toy when you were 5-8 years old?2. How did you carry your toys to and from the beach?3. What was your favorite beach activity?4. What did you sit on at the beach?5. Suggestions for this project?
1;2011-02-15 18:18:32;;shovel;a cart;getting in the water;a towel;no sir
2;2011-02-15 18:20:57;;Bucket;On top of the boogieboard;playing in the water;towel;
3;2011-02-15 18:28:22;;A bucket;with my arms;swimming;a towel;
4;2011-02-15 18:44:35;;a sand sifter and funnel for mud;in a big basket or bag or carried inside towels;swimming and making sand castles and moats (now reading on the beach);hopefully a beach chair but most likely a towel or sarong;not really. maybe just to make sure its light weight, a large carrying space, and that the carrying space is secure and the chair is comfortable. Maybe having the chair lightweight with a cup holder and pocket, having in between the legs a box thats removeable to put large toys in and lids on either the arm rests or in the back of the chair for small ones.....idk. Love you though!
5;2011-02-15 18:53:22;;bucket and pail;parents carried them;building sand castles/burying my legs in the sand;the sand/towel;
6;2011-02-15 18:54:30;;the shovels with the handles connected in-like your hand fits right into it;dad... :);was-sand castles and burring people...now sitting right where the waves break in my chair and getting tan!;as a kid, my boogie board, cooler or towel;
7;2011-02-15 19:14:04;;shovel and castle molds;big bag;digging holes, making castles;towel;make it easy to breakdown so it can be stored anywhere
8;2011-02-15 19:15:20;;Bodyboard;By Hand/Beach Cart;Surfing;Bodyboard/Towel;I miss you Ms. Jackson!!!!! - JAY
9;2011-02-15 19:26:02;;castle mold;beach bag;sand castles;towel;
10;2011-02-15 19:29:20;;bucket and shovel;mom had a beach bag;building sandcastles;towel;
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11;2011-02-15 20:09:51;;football;My parents did all the carrying;throwing the football or frisbee;towel;
12;2011-02-15 20:10:24;;Boogie board;Mesh bag;Just being in the water;Chair and towel;Kids HATE carrying stuff. I have learned this from experience gah! Make it as burdenless as possible. Great idea though!
13;2011-02-15 20:23:11;;Boogie Board;Using the strap over my shoulder, duh!;Baseball Catch;My Ass;Keeping everything together while walking to and fro is CROOOSH. It was/is a pain to carry everything and walk uncomfortably with sand all over, in the hot, with the sweat.
14;2011-02-15 20:26:53;;my boogie board, yes it was a boogie board and not a bodyboard because i was little.;under my arm and in a big bag that i would drag once i hit the sand. sometimes i put the bag on the boogie and dragged it that way;anything in the water, and making drip sand castles, or castles that have motes that get filled up when a big enough wave comes;the sand, my boogie or someone elses chair;something that leaves more up to the kids imagination. something that can be used in various ways and situations, simple in form, but can be manipulated in different ways. p.s. i effing miss you and love you so much. you should know who this is after you read the first answer. my little.
15;2011-02-15 21:10:36;;Sand bucket;Beach bag;Swimming in the water;Towel;
16;2011-02-15 21:12:33;;feet in the sand;jelly bag;sitting the ocean;blanket;
17;2011-02-15 21:59:35;;A boogie board, without a doubt. I always wanted to use my parents’ huge high-quality ones instead of my styrofoam kiddie board. I also liked the castle-shaped buckets.;We had an aluminum beach cart, about 3 ft. by 2 ft. for coolers and sand toys, but I had to carry my own boogie board.;BOOGIE BOARDING (in case you hadn’t figured that out yet).;Low, cheap metal-and-fabric beach chairs, but usually just a towel (or a boogie board).;Please take me with you when you do research. Please. I’ll offer free lodging in my parents’ beach house in Wrightsville, NC. I need some ocean in my life. :) -Liz Stokley
18;2011-02-15 23:02:01;;Shovel & Bucket;Canvas Bag;Swimming;towel;Perhaps obvious, but should not be a chair that sits high up. Should be low to the ground.
Survey Results Cont.
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19;2011-02-16 00:19:12;;football;i didn’t. parents did;surfing;in the water or very close;Something see thru so the parents can tell quickly what they have, avoiding freakouts for lost toys. Something with big wheels, maybe like tonka truck looking tires so it can roll easy in case you have to park far
20;2011-02-16 07:23:02;;Bodyboard;Arms;Playing in water;Towel;
21;2011-02-16 09:04:16;;Spade;Sometimes. Mostly yes.;Swimming / Surfing- I’m Australian and it’s basically our national passtime;The sand. Sometimes a towel.;Jordan is a bit of a hottie.
22;2011-02-16 11:56:34;;Plastic Sand Castle Mold;By hand (in a large bucket);Building Sandcastles;Beach Chair;
23;2011-02-16 15:43:15;;stuff to make sand castles;beach bag;bulding sand castles;towel;
24;2011-02-16 15:45:23;;boogie board;by hand.... it was a bitch;spending all day in the water;towel or a parent’s chair;
25;2011-02-16 16:06:28;;bucket. It held all of the sand fiddlers I collected and it carried water I could throw on people.;I had a bag that I carried everything in.;If I wasn’t swimming, I was digging in the sand... making “castles” or “pools.”;usually just a towel.;
26;2011-02-16 17:41:31;;Shovel;Big ass bucket;Building sand castles;Sand;DO Work
27;2011-02-17 09:26:58;;beach ball;in a beach bag;reading;towel or blanket;
28;2011-02-17 09:29:12;;Bucket;Bucket;Playin in the water;A beach towel;
29;2011-02-17 09:38:05;;shovel;tote;volleyball;a chair;
30;2011-02-17 09:50:26;;sand buckets;on a bogie board;playing in the water;the sand;What was your fav beach food
31;2011-02-17 10:13:27;;Classic bucket and hand shovel;Big mesh beach bag;It’s a tie: making sand castles and digging for “sand fiddlers”;Towel, sheet, or the sand - no chairs when I was a kid (they were for the adults!);
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32;2011-02-17 10:45:52;;Foam splash balls;In a bag we stole from IKEA;swimming;Towel;Maybe a flexible lightweight chair that can be a chair and a mat. A pouch on the back for toys.
33;2011-02-17 12:01:11;;Shovel and Pail;In a bookbag;Sunning;Towel;Something with wheels that will be fine on the road or on the sand would be great.
34;2011-02-17 13:10:56;;Bucket/Pail;Little Red Wagon or Dad;Swimming;Towel;I’m way into things that hold things. Compartments are key. Satifies practicality and OCD (I think I probably had OCD as a 5 year old too...mmm, yeah). A shovel that came out of a chair leg, a bucket that comes out of the seat.....cool project :)
35;2011-02-17 16:35:03;;bucket and shovel;abig bag;playing in teh water;beach towel;
36;2011-02-17 17:44:54;;Shovel and bucket;With my hands;None;Blanket;Stay out of the sun
Interviews
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Questions:1. What do you usually carry to the beach?2. What does your child carry to the beach? 3. What is your child’s favorite beach toy? 4. What is your child’s favorite beach activity? 5. What do your children sit on at the beach?6. Do you help your child carry his/her toys to and from the beach?7. Would a product that empowered your child to carry his/her own toys be beneficial to you?
Parent #11. a cooler, books, toys2. Shovel, Bucket, Sand Castle Mold, Boogie Board, Towel, Snacks, Beach Chair, Frisbee, Floatation Device3. Sifter4. making sand castles, swimming. looking for sea shells5. towels6. Yes7. Yes
Parent # 21. Towel, sunblock, hat, cooler, book2. Shovel, Bucket, Towel, Snacks3. Shovel & Bucket4. sand castle building5. towel6. Yes7. Yes
Parent # 31. towels, a blanket, some drinks, suntan lotion, and a camera2. Shovel, Bucket, Sand Castle Mold, Boogie Board3. Boogie Board4. riding the waves5. the sand or a blanket6. Yes7. Yes
Parent # 41. Chairs, coolers, book, magazine, umbrellas, towels, frisbee, snacks2. Shovel, Bucket, Sand Castle Mold, Boogie Board, Towel, Snacks, Beach Chair,
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Frisbee, Floatation Device3. Boogie Board4. riding waves5. chairs6. Yes7. Yes
Parent # 51. beach chair, beer, book2. Shovel, Bucket, Boogie Board, Towel, Snacks, Beach Chair3. boogie board4. playing in the water, looking for cool stuff on the shore5. beach chair or the sarong she’s wearing (i do that too)6. Yes7. Yes“some sort of light, easy to carry all-in-one... like a light chair with a pouch for snacks/drinks and toys that are built into it... anything is possible, right?!”
Parent # 61. Towels, cooler, snacks, football or volleyball, sunscreen, books or magazines, radio2. Towel, Snacks, Beach Chair3. football or volleyball4. swim and run in the sand5. towel6. Yes7. Yes“It would be great for them to carry their own toys/objects to the beach. It can teach them a little bit of responsability and planning”
Parent # 71. Beach chair, blanket, cooler, towels, snacks and umbrella plus the kids’ junk.2. Shovel, Bucket, Boogie Board, Towel, Snacks, Frisbee3. Boogie Board4. boogie boarding5. blanket6. Yes7. Yes
Interviews Cont.
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Parent # 81. Towels, chair, snacks, sun lotion, drinks, sunglasses, watch a good book. Cooler2. Shovel, Bucket, Boogie Board, Towel, Snacks, Beach Chair, Floatation Device3. Boogie Board4. playing in the water5. beach towel6. Yes7. Yes
Parent # 91. chair, umbrella, blanket, towell & sunscreen2. Shovel, Bucket3. Shovel & Bucket4. playing in the water5. blanket6. Yes7. (a shrug of the shoulders)
Parent # 101. chair, book, drink and something to eat 2. Shovel, Bucket, Sand Castle Mold, Boogie Board, Towel, Snacks, Beach Chair, Frisbee, Floatation Device3. Frisbee4. sand castle and swimming5. blanket6. Yes7. Yes
Parent # 111. cooler, chair, towels, kid’s toys2. Shovel, Bucket, Sand Castle Mold, Snacks, Beach Chair, Frisbee3. Sand Castle Molds4. swimming5. chairs or towels6. Yes7. Yes
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Parent # 121. umbrella, chairs, cooler, toys, suntan lotion, munchies, book, towels, sunglasses, games2. Shovel, Bucket, Frisbee, Floatation Device3. Shovel & Bucket4. playing in sand5. the beach6. Yes7. Yes“carry plenty because a child’s span of interest is usually short”
Parent # 131. Chairs, cooler, fishing poles, camera, towels2. Shovel, Bucket3. Shovel & Bucket4. playing in the sand5. towel and chair6. Yes7. Yes“Light, easy to use and simple”
Parent # 141. Beach chair , towel, suntan lotion2. Shovel, Bucket, Towel, Snacks, Floatation Device3. Shovel & Bucket4. playing in the sand5. towel6. Yes7. Yes
Long live the sun, which gives us such color.
Paul Cézanne (1839-1906)
