Hero Project 02 / Human-centered Product System Design / Melody Adventurer
A modular physical play concept with a proposed digital story module, developed through qualitative research, concept selection, physical prototyping, and CMF exploration.
01 / Context & Design Question
Research and sizing references centered on ages 7–10; fit for six-year-olds remains untested. The project explores how a hands-on activity might support sustained engagement without relying on continuous digital stimulation.
02 / Final Concept & Proposed Interaction
Final Concept Film
Physical rolling and key contact tested · Audio recognition and story feedback simulated
Proposed Interaction Logic
Game Mode is the core physical loop; Listening Mode remains a secondary, untested extension. The narrative module and melody-recognition feedback were not implemented.
Mode selection, story pauses, melody setup, retry feedback, and story continuation. Electronic feedback remains conceptual. Select the diagram to inspect it at full size.
View Original Academic Process Booklet 98 pages · 19 MB →
Archive note: these original academic PDFs preserve the initial concept framing and include statements that were not validated. The evidence boundary on this page reflects the current project status.
03 / Research to Design Criteria
Documented Research Scope
The process booklet documents qualitative viewpoints from one parent and one 8-year-old child, plus three contextual observations: an 8-year-old after school; two children aged 7 and 9 during shared free play; and a school activity with approximately 8–10 nine-year-olds.
The booklet documents qualitative viewpoints from one parent and one 8-year-old child. The child described screen use as relaxing and difficult to stop, and reported shorter sustained attention.
During one after-school session, restlessness eased once the child began arranging objects into a repeated sequence.
Across shared free play and a school activity, a common goal supported negotiation and task continuity; added complexity disrupted the sequence.
Across the documented sessions, repeated sequences, clear shared goals, and manageable complexity were associated with steadier task continuity.
Task breakdown, predictable routines, delayed feedback, and noncompetitive progress were adopted as principles rather than claimed as observed effects.
The observed patterns and theory-informed principles became five requirements used to compare and develop concepts.
These requirements guided concept development; they do not demonstrate developmental or behavioral impact.
Use clear steps and predictable progression.
Move through choosing, building, testing, correcting, and repeating.
Avoid points, rankings, and peer comparison; mark task progress instead.
Construction and testing come before melody and story continuation.
Keep the core loop stable enough to learn and replay.
Method note: this small qualitative sample guided concept criteria. Personalization, shared play, and adjustable difficulty remained secondary opportunities. The study does not support behavioral, developmental, or clinical outcome claims.
04 / From Concept Selection to Product Direction
Decision 01 / Interaction Direction
Three parallel directions were compared—not presented as chronological iterations.
Selection Lens / Qualitative Designer Assessment
I compared three directions against four qualitative priorities; this was a design decision, not a weighted user-test score.
Why I advanced it I selected Melody Engineer because its configurable paths, delayed musical feedback, and solo or shared play aligned with the project criteria while leaving room for further development.
Strength Immediate rolling-ball cause and effect.
I did not advance it because the fixed board limited configuration and replay.
Strength Focused, embodied breath control.
I did not advance it because it offered less construction, replay, and shared-play potential.Decision 02 / Architecture & Form
Selected because The physical path remains primary, while the smaller module clearly supports the story, musical sequence, and next action.
Risk identified It split the information hierarchy and left system feasibility unresolved.
Risk identified Its footprint and elevated interaction area conflicted with seated tabletop play.
Risk identified Its visual volume competed with the child-built physical path.
05 / Product System, Interaction & CMF
System Architecture
Track height is intended to vary challenge; key color and length encode notes; the proposed narrative module would manage the story, target sequence, and next action.
Narrative Module
NFC is proposed to identify the story card; separate audio sensing would evaluate the played notes against the stored musical sequence.
Physical Platform
A perforation matrix, modular tracks, collection tray, and folding support are intended to simplify setup, correction, and storage.
Preliminary construction proposal
Preliminary Anthropometric Reference / Data for Ages 7–10
Reference data produced an initial envelope of 310 mm high by 462.5 mm wide; the 91 mm track width references grip-length data for ages 7.5–8.5. These dimensions have not been validated with children.
Reach, grip, and six-year-old fit require user testingNFC selects the stored content and target sequence; acoustic sensing evaluates the played notes. The two independent routes converge only at sequence comparison.
Compares Route B’s detected notes with Route A’s target sequence, then returns retry or continue feedback.
Concept architecture only—no integrated PCB, recognition algorithm, or child-facing test was completed.
CMF Reference Samples & Material Proposal
Warm, lightly textured surfaces aim to limit visual noise, while vivid keys are intended to differentiate notes.
Generic reference samples were reviewed; exact grades, FSC certification, bio-content, acoustic performance, supplier, tooling, compliance, and production feasibility were not verified.
06 / Simulation & Physical Prototype Checks
SolidWorks Motion Study
Used alongside physical prototyping to review path continuity and possible interference.
3D-Printed Bench Test
Observed ball release, key contact, and stall points in the assembled study model.
Prototype Iteration Chain
The rolling interaction was retained; benchmark inspection and early trials informed changes to key support and acoustic structure.
Prototype evidence—not acoustic tuning or production validation.
Evidence Boundary
The ball completed the stepped route, although some physical trials stalled at transitions and sounded duller than the reference. Simulation checked possible interference; generic CMF samples informed the visual and tactile direction.
Open work includes note recognition, acoustic tuning, production feasibility, durability, reach and grip, six-year-old fit, and child comprehension and replay. No behavioral or clinical outcomes were tested.