My Brief: To design a child’s prop or toy, for 3 to 6 year olds, which allows them to interpret it in different ways and which lends itself to a multiple of fantasy and role play scenarios.
The BUSY BEE is made up of 4 panels, which can come together to form a square structure.
Each panel is 50cm by 50cm by 3.5cm. They are made from an inner structure of honeycombed cardboard which is sandwiched between stiffer card.
On one side the card is painted with black chalkboard paint. On the other, the card is upholstered with 100% wool felt [baize]. This material naturally grips/hooks well when used with the hook side of Velcro. Each of the 4 panels has a different colour fabric side.
The 4 panels can be used separately or together. Two opposite edges are shaped with a rounded end and 45 degree angled sides. Inside the structure at the tips are rods of magnets, which is how the panels can be help together.
When placed tip to tip the panels can be held at a number of angles. At 45 degrees, a right angle is secured, with all 4 panels this would create a ridged square structure.
Out of the 4 panels, two are solid, one has a square door and one has a circular door, which both open and close either way.
The idea behind the toy is to be a multifunctional prop, which lets the child or children playing with it use their imagination to draw, scribble or stick aspects of their game to the three dimensional drawing board. This way, dads’ old shirt can be turned into flowers, which can be attached to the secret garden scene a child might have created.