Shadow Play
"Simplicity is best." This old but widely known saying still holds true, especially in certain aspects of children's learning development. This project explores how a simple toy can teach young kids the challenging concept of dimensions in an easy and fun way.
A simple toy, easy to handle, can lead to unexpected outcomes as its simplicity creates space for children’s creative thinking and problem-solving. In a cross-disciplinary course between the Graduate School of Design and the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University, students explored how simple, intuitive play enhances children's learning abilities—similar to Froebel’s gifts or Lego. Inspired by these precedents, Shadow Play was introduced as a realization of educational theorists’ belief in the power of play as a teaching tool. My partner, Jean You, and I also referenced the Common Core Standards to help children aged 4 to 8 develop a sense of space and dimension, both in the classroom and at home. Together, Jean and I collaborated on this project from the initial concept through to the final prototype production.
