Creature Cubes
Creature Cubes
Creature Cubes
Creature Cubes
A modular wooden block set designed to inspire playfulness in adults' daily lives.
A modular wooden block set designed to inspire playfulness in adults' daily lives.
A modular wooden block set designed to inspire playfulness in adults' daily lives.
Branding, Packaging, Woodworking
Branding, Packaging, Woodworking
Branding, Packaging, Woodworking
Overview
Overview
Overview
Overview
Embarking on a new process
For my year-long, open-ended capstone design project at Northeastern University, I wanted to challenge myself to complete a project unlike anything I'd done before. I like to consider myself a handy person, and wanted to pick up woodworking, something I hadn't done since 6th grade. So, I got trained at Northeastern's Maker Space and got to thinking on what I wanted to make. Motivated by the idea of inspiring play in adult lives, I set out to create a set of wooden blocks.
Embarking on a new process
For my year-long, open-ended capstone design project at Northeastern University, I wanted to challenge myself to complete a project unlike anything I'd done before. I like to consider myself a handy person, and wanted to pick up woodworking, something I hadn't done since 6th grade. So, I got trained at Northeastern's Maker Space and got to thinking on what I wanted to make. Motivated by the idea of inspiring play in adult lives, I set out to create a set of wooden blocks.
Embarking on a new process
For my year-long, open-ended capstone design project at Northeastern University, I wanted to challenge myself to complete a project unlike anything I'd done before. I like to consider myself a handy person, and wanted to pick up woodworking, something I hadn't done since 6th grade. So, I got trained at Northeastern's Maker Space and got to thinking on what I wanted to make. Motivated by the idea of inspiring play in adult lives, I set out to create a set of wooden blocks.
Embarking on a new process
For my year-long, open-ended capstone design project at Northeastern University, I wanted to challenge myself to complete a project unlike anything I'd done before. I like to consider myself a handy person, and wanted to pick up woodworking, something I hadn't done since 6th grade. So, I got trained at Northeastern's Maker Space and got to thinking on what I wanted to make. Motivated by the idea of inspiring play in adult lives, I set out to create a set of wooden blocks.
❉
"Whoever wants to understand much must play much."
Gottfried Benn
❉
"Whoever wants to understand much must play much."
Gottfried Benn
❉
"Whoever wants to understand much must play much."
Gottfried Benn
❉
"Whoever wants to understand much must play much."
Gottfried Benn
❉
"Whoever wants to understand much must play much."
Gottfried Benn
Challenge
Challenge
As adults with routines and responsibilities, it can be hard to find time or reason to play
Play is a huge part of our lives as children. The value that playing offers kids is well-researched and embraced by school curriculum. But, once kids grow up into adults, suddenly play is a perceived waste of time. The narrative around play is starting to shift, however, with the UN hosting their innaugural International Day of Play in 2024, catered to children and adults. With my capstone project, I wanted to create something that help adults reach a play state.
As adults with routines and responsibilities, it can be hard to find time or reason to play
Play is a huge part of our lives as children. The value that playing offers kids is well-researched and embraced by school curriculum. But, once kids grow up into adults, suddenly play is a perceived waste of time. The narrative around play is starting to shift, however, with the UN hosting their innaugural International Day of Play in 2024, catered to children and adults. With my capstone project, I wanted to create something that help adults reach a play state.
As adults with routines and responsibilities, it can be hard to find time or reason to play
Play is a huge part of our lives as children. The value that playing offers kids is well-researched and embraced by school curriculum. But, once kids grow up into adults, suddenly play is a perceived waste of time. The narrative around play is starting to shift, however, with the UN hosting their innaugural International Day of Play in 2024, catered to children and adults. With my capstone project, I wanted to create something that help adults reach a play state.
Solution
Solution
Solution
Solution
Bring more play to your day-to-day
I designed & constructed Creature Cubes, a wooden block set. Each of the 18 blocks in the set are unique creature parts, allowing the user to build fun combinations of their choosing. They are meant to help adults incorporate small moments of play into their everyday lives.
Bring more play to your day-to-day
I designed & constructed Creature Cubes, a wooden block set. Each of the 18 blocks in the set are unique creature parts, allowing the user to build fun combinations of their choosing. They are meant to help adults incorporate small moments of play into their everyday lives.
Bring more play to your day-to-day
I designed & constructed Creature Cubes, a wooden block set. Each of the 18 blocks in the set are unique creature parts, allowing the user to build fun combinations of their choosing. They are meant to help adults incorporate small moments of play into their everyday lives.
Process
Process
Process
Building a system
I first created paper sketches of my ideas of potential pieces. After a few rounds of sketches, I moved to Illustrator to better flesh out the exact size of each piece. I also considered how the pieces would fit into a cube box packaging concept.
A key part of determining the correct dimensions was creating paper models, an easy way to see if the sizes made sense in relation to each other. This was also my favorite part of the process, because it was the first time I got to actually play with my creation.
Building a system
I first created paper sketches of my ideas of potential pieces. After a few rounds of sketches, I moved to Illustrator to better flesh out the exact size of each piece. I also considered how the pieces would fit into a cube box packaging concept.
A key part of determining the correct dimensions was creating paper models, an easy way to see if the sizes made sense in relation to each other. This was also my favorite part of the process, because it was the first time I got to actually play with my creation.
Building a system
I first created paper sketches of my ideas of potential pieces. After a few rounds of sketches, I moved to Illustrator to better flesh out the exact size of each piece. I also considered how the pieces would fit into a cube box packaging concept.
A key part of determining the correct dimensions was creating paper models, an easy way to see if the sizes made sense in relation to each other. This was also my favorite part of the process, because it was the first time I got to actually play with my creation.
After cutting, sanding, and painting each of the pieces, I was ready to move onto the branding and website. Creature Cubes' type system includes Azo Sans and Object Sans. The simple geometry of both typefaces allude to a system of blocks, allowing the typography and the blocks themselves to complement each other. I wanted the blocks to feel full of life, so I used an array of vibrant colors for the blocks and digital elements.
After cutting, sanding, and painting each of the pieces, I was ready to move onto the branding and website. Creature Cubes' type system includes Azo Sans and Object Sans. The simple geometry of both typefaces allude to a system of blocks, allowing the typography and the blocks themselves to complement each other. I wanted the blocks to feel full of life, so I used an array of vibrant colors for the blocks and digital elements.
Creature Cubes' type system includes Azo Sans
and Object Sans. The simple geometry of both typefaces allude to a system of blocks, allowing
the typography and the blocks themselves to complement each other. I wanted the blocks to
feel full of life, so I used an array of vibrant colors
for the blocks and digital elements.
Takeaways
I had never embarked on a woodworking project. It proved to be challenging, but it was exciting to explore a new medium. I discovered interesting parallels between my processes for creating digital versus physical products. The slowness and preciseness I honed on this project are skills that are applicable to all future work.
Takeaways
I had never embarked on a woodworking project. It proved to be challenging, but it was exciting to explore a new medium. I discovered interesting parallels between my processes for creating digital versus physical products. The slowness and preciseness I honed on this project are skills that are applicable to all future work.
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