Hop-A-Tops are a set of toys for children ages 2-5 who need a way to engage in limitless and non-directed active-indoor play. They are a simple and fun toy that allows the child to create their own play environment. This toy was designed for Bunny Hopkins, a start-up based in Atlanta, Georgia.
in collaboration with Leah Cohen, Sapan Desai, Elizabeth Goetz, Alyssa Hearn, and Madelyn Principe
Research
Bunny Hopkins is an Atlanta-based company that specializes in wooden, open-ended toys for children ages 2-5. They currently sell three different toys (pictured below): wobble boards offered in two sizes and a climbing triangle sold with various optional add-on units. Their products are popular among Waldorf and Montessori parents, as well as teachers and daycare workers.
Project Objective
Design a product for children ages 2-5 that requires minimal play instructions, is made of sustainably sourced natural materials from the environment and encompasses two or more preferred categories of play.
Play Categories
Survey
To get a better understanding of what types of toys parents bought for their children, a survey was sent out. It ran from from February 8-15, 2021 and received 160 responses. Here are some of the findings that influenced the design.
When shopping for children's toys, how important
are each of the following features to you?
Where do you prefer your children to play?
What is the largest toy you would consider purchasing?
IDEATION
To create the next hit toy, our group pinned up any and all fun activities that came to mind and then linked ideas with string. These ideas were then organized into the different categories of play.
After multiple brainstorm sessions, 4 distinct ideas were chosen to move forward:
Cylinder Platforms
Uncommon Shape Platforms
Moveable Netting
Bean
The concepts were presented to the CEO of Bunny Hopkins and the team decided to move forward with the cylinder platforms concept that could allow for different modes of play.
Using anthropometric data as well as childrens developmental milestones listed out by the CDC, prototypes were made using foamcore. The prototypes included various cut-outs and were weighted with blocks to simulate the weight of the product if it were made of wood. These were then tested with children ages 2-5 to see what features the children gravitated towards most and whether the sizing and weight of the set was appropriate.
In this round of testing we found that the stripe cutouts on the middle size were least popular, the large cylinder could benefit from more cut-outs, and that parents would be willing to buy this toy in a set.
Final Model
Hop-A-Tops are a simple and fun toy that allows children ages 2-5 to create their own play environment and engage in limitless and non-directed active-indoor play. The set includes three hollow wooden cylinders that nest within one another for quick, space-saving storage.
Unlike other large scale, open ended construction toys -- such as Nugget or Fort -- Hop-A-Tops are manufactured with sustainably sourced natural materials in the US, multifunctional within the various types of play, and store easily. The unique use of a hollow form, accessible sizing, and cut outs allow all children ages 2-5 to interact with Hop-A-Tops in different ways based on their skill set.
