AVA GARFINKEL
This assignment was the first in a Toy Design class at RISD. As an introduction to the world of toys, we were asked to design and manufacture a pull toy for a user that we defined. We were allowed to use any material we'd like, and the only requirement was that the toy have at least two functions besides rolling. Since we were only given two weeks for this project, I decided that I wanted a simple, well-executed pull toy that any young child would be happy to have as a companion.
RESEARCH
My research began with creating a mood board of pull toys I wanted to draw inspiration from. In looking at what was currently on the market, animal pull toys seemed to be the most popular. I liked the idea of creating an animal pull toy so that it could serve as a companion for the child using it, but I wasn't interested in using a commonly found animal like a dog or cat since there were already so many of those. I also liked the toys that were multipurpose and included other play patterns besides pulling, and decided this was something I wanted to include in my design.
Pull toy mood board
Created with Miro
Before sketching my own ideas, I also did research on the most popular animals amongst children aged 6-18 months, since this was the age group I'd be designing for. I was hoping that through this research, I would be able to find popular animals that were underrepresented in pull toys.
PROCESS
Once I finished researching, I drew some concept sketches for different pull toys. I wanted to start with a diverse range of animals so that I could see which ones were most well-received.
Concept sketches
My next step was to create a prototype of my design so that I would work out any technical issues. I started with creating a CAD file of a stingray using Fusion 360 in order to visualize what the final product would look like. I then spent some time designing the shapes of the shape sorter game on the stingray's back. I decided that in order to keep with the ocean theme, I would model the shapes on the back as other plants and animals found in the ocean. This left me with a design I was ready to make a prototype of.
Once the prototype was complete, I was able to refine a view things so that the final design worked better. First, I wanted to make the entire model thinner so that it more closely resembled an actual stingray. Second, I decided that I wanted the shapes on the top to have more interaction outside of just being shapes to fit into slots. I chose to make them shakers that were hollow with beads on the inside, and I would attach them to the body of the stingray with string so that when taken out they would drag behind the stingray and not risk getting lost. Finally, I decided that while I liked the wood look, it wasn't translating to a bright fun kids toy the way I wanted it to. Therefore, the final design would be 3D printed with wood elements for the wheels, tail, and shapes.
After presenting my ideas and considering manufacturing techniques for each design, I decided to go with the stingray design. This design would be in the shape of a cute, child-like stingray with a shapes on its back that could be sorted into the appropriate slots. This design seemed the most feasible to make in the time frame given, and it fulfilled by desire of wanting to make a toy that included multiple play patterns. In order to meet the requirement of having two functions besides rolling, I decided that I would make wobble wheels so that the stingray looked like it was swimming while it was being pulled.
Shape designs
Stingray CAD design
To make my prototype, I decided that wood would be the easiest material to use. I brought the CAD design into Slicer for Fusion 360 and cut the design into different layers that could then be laser cut and stacked on top of one another to make the design. I used a similar process to model the shapes on top of its back, and used dowels and laser cut wooden circles to make the wheels. I made sure to make the wheel axes off-center so that the stingray would wobble while it moved.
Building process
Building process
Top view of prototype
Side view of prototype
Video of prototype rolling
The main body was divided into four parts and 3D printed. It was then puttied over, sanded, and spray painted to give the toy a clean finish and texture. The shapes on the top of the stingray were all laser cut into wooden layers that would be glued on top of each other, with all the middle layers being just outlines of the shapes so that once layered the shape was hollow. Clay was adhered to the top of the shapes in order to make the details, and all the layers were glued together with grains of rice put in the middle to make the shakers. The wheels were also laser cut out of wood and used wooden dowels, and the tail was made out of laser cut circles painted to match the shapes on the top. Finally, string was pulled through the front of the stingray so that it could be pulled.
3D printed body
Painted body and shapes
PRODUCT
The final product is an adorable stingray pull-toy that any child would be happy to have as a companion. The stingray is a light blue color to mimic the actual color of stingrays, and the shapes on its back are brightly colored ocean creatures that can drag behind and rattle as the stingray swims along. Overall I am very happy with the outcome of this project and feel that I achieved everything I set out to do. If I were to redo this project in the future, I would potentially try to CNC mill the stingray out of wood to give the body more weight.
