Nature Sidekick, WU Yichen

Children’s Toy Design Based on Urban Nature Education

In today’s fast-paced urban environment, some urban children and teenagers are facing the pressure of social competition brought about by rapid development at an increasingly early age. With the development of electronic technology, children’s daily lives are more oriented towards entertainment activities such as video games than ever before. The increasing ‘nature deficit disorder’ has led to a disregard for the realities around them, and a diminished sense of inner fulfilment and well-being, resulting in a series of negative effects.

Nature Sidekick is a children’s toy based on urban nature education. The material consists of a tri-coloured translucent acrylic, mirrored acrylic and a Fresnel magnifying mirror surface that will correspond to a wide range of play possibilities. The rounded frosted corners facilitate the child’s grip; the suction cups are embedded in the assembly for a better experience.

Packaging Design: the outermost layer is printed with a flat graphic of the assembly; the bottom is printed with a wire frame for guided storage; the overall assembly gap is easy to access.

Instruction Card: the left-hand side shows the material and its corresponding natural object; the right-hand side shows the assembly method to provide inspiration.

Paper