X y l oDomegrowinginstrument

Design IntentTo design a creativity toy for Fisher Price. This toy would serve as a tool to encourage the child to create and to make their own discoveries.

Fisher Price is a producer of children’s products with an emphasis on learning, creativity and role playing toys.

Fisher Price creates toys for a wide range of ages, from 5 months to 5 years.

To design concepts for Fisher Price provided me with the opportunity to study the creative and curious needs of children throughout their rapid development.

What is Fisher Price?

SANDCASTLES!!

rugged construction

Xylodome1

Xylodome 2

Initial ThoughtsInitially I wanted to find new ways for children to see the world. A series of light-based concepts followed. This then led me to look at new ways to interact with sound and music

project-a-sketch

electromagna-doodle

telescopic spirograph

w/o spiroscope with spiroscopic overlay

filtered telescopes

kid tough digital camera with ice lens molds

inkjet armbandtattoo printer

revolving rocket xylophone

xylodome movements

XylodomeWith the Xylodome, I took the tactile musical elements from classic Fisher Price toys and expanded upon their play pattern, allowing it to grow with the child.

metal notes

mobility

Xylodome3

mallet head

toggle spring

mallet handle

control interface

note mounts

note bars

body shell

note actuators/mallets

pc board

motorswheels

batteries

base shell

battery door

Primary Components

actuators allow the Xylodome to physically strike its own notes which open up a wide variety of game types

Xylodome 4

Freeplay/ Power OffIn Freeplay mode the child simply toggles the mallet and is free to play however they wish. This function also doubles as the off switch.

mallet toggles and extends while stowing in body for storage

Xylodome5

Simon ModeDuring Simon mode, Xylodome will play an increasingly large chain of notes which the child will have to repeat.

When a mistake is made, a descending series of notes are played and the game starts again.

Sensei ModeIn Sensei mode the Xylodome assists the child in playing a tune by presenting the proper notes. First the child strikes a note which lets it know which direction to face the child.

After striking the correct note, Xylodome spins in place to present the following note.

Xylodome 6

Maestro ModeIn Maestro mode, the child’s tune is recorded by the Xylodome and played back. This is done through the red and green record and play buttons.

Marching Band ModeMarching Band mode is identical to Maestro mode except that a certain movement is mapped to each note.During playback, Xylodome ‘marches’ to your tune.

As the child grows and begins to make the connection between the note’s sound and color with its movement, the child can begin to ‘program’ the Xylodome to dance.

Record

Play

Xylodome7

various dance moves

Xylodome 8