University of Twente Student Theses
Co-creating with children : arts and crafts toys
Smits, H.J.G. (2016) Co-creating with children : arts and crafts toys.
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| Abstract: | This project is executed on behalf of company X and aims to create a set of guidelines with which they can navigate the market of arts and crafts products. Arts and crafts are creative activities aiming to create or decorate an object, improving a child's cognitive and fine motor skills. Children develop their art skills as they age, their work becoming increasingly realistic. When designing products for children it is important to take into account their abilities. The target group of arts and crafts toys is very broad, as it includes all children aged 1-12 and their parents or guardians. Girls tend to take an interest in arts and crafts earlier than boys, due to their more advanced fine motor skill on a young age and less aggressive nature. This creates the stereotype that arts and crafts are a girly trade; however, no evidence exist of girls being more creative. Arts and crafts is a trendy category of toys where products often lose their popularity after a couple of years due to their affinity for licence deals. All successful new products have in common that they are either innovative or are sold under licences. Other influential features are collectability, low prices, and a variety in creative possibilities, but the most influential feature of all is what the child wants. The complete market of arts and crafts products has been divided into 8 categories, Figure 0, that have been rated on various categories, like price, popularity and competition. The categories with the lowest average price are Stamps & Stickers and Fashion & Jewellery. Drawing & Painting and Modelling contain the most bestsellers, while Drawing & Painting and Stamps & Stickers are the categories with the most competition. Part of this research was to examine the possibilities of co-creation in the design process. There are four main forms of co-creation, feedback sessions, brainstorm sessions, design workshops and customisation. For a feedback or brainstorm session, it is important to have clear objectives and a test structure to fall back on. Design workshops entail actively inviting children to be part of the design process. They can function as an idea generation or an insight in children's preferences and experiences. Customisation is an attractive option in the toy industry, especially in the arts and crafts market. When customers have the option to make a product their own they will feel more connected to the product and the brand. Easiest to implement is adaptive customisation, a standard product that the user can customise. Abstract 1. Drawing & Painting 2. Modelling 3. Mosaics 4. Fashion & Jewellery 5. Stamps & Stickers 6. Needlework 7. Crafting Sets 8. Supplies Figure 0 Arts and crafts |
| Item Type: | Essay (Bachelor) |
| Faculty: | ET: Engineering Technology |
| Subject: | 20 art studies |
| Programme: | Industrial Design BSc (56955) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/69729 |
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