Play experiences

for the next generation

Play plays a vital role in the mental and physical development of children. New technologies and media in developed countries change the play behaviours of children and the way that they grow up. For example they learn at increasingly younger ages to play with game consoles and computers. The design of virtual realities and their relation to the "real" physical world gains importance and becomes an increasingly exciting challange for interaction designers.

4 weeks

To explore some of the related issues Jan-Christoph Zoesl and I initiated a workshop at IDII about "play experiences for the next generation". Together with other renowned design institutions (RCA London, ITP New York, IIT Chicago, Hongik University) we took part at a design summit by the toy manufacturar Mattel. The four week workshop at IDII was structured in four sections: the first week with user studies, brainstorming sessions and exploration was followed by a concept phase and then one week each for design and the creation of a prototype.

El Segundo

The results of the 10 teams were presented together with the participants of the other colleges at Mattel in Los Angeles. The presentation included a physical prototype and a detailed documentation of all projects.

Images - Process

Images - Projects

Faculty

Jan-Christoph Zoels
Ralph Ammer
Yaniv Steiner

Visiting faculty

Christine Modica
Pinar Nur
Stephan Huber
Giorgio Olivero

Mattel

Chris Down
Jason Eddy
Peter Helenek
Tim Parsey
S. Joy Mountford

Students

Alejandro Zamudio
Alexandra Sonsino
Ana Camila Amorim
Aram Armstrong
Chia-Ying Lee
Dana Gordon
David Chiu
David Mellis
Didier Hilhorst
Haiyan Zhang
Hayat Benchenaa
James Tichenor
Michael Albers
Nicolas Zambetti
Oren Horev
Pei Yu
Shawn Bonkowski
Tristam Sparks
Victor Szilagyi
Vinay Venkatraman