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Castle Carousel: A wooden structure to spark imaginative play through motion
In a toy market shaped by short-lived trends, Castle Carousel reimagines luxury play through a handcrafted world that transforms across stories and settings. Designed for open-ended exploration, it combines modular interaction, characters, and timeless craftsmanship so play feels personal, enduring, and full of discovery.
Scope: Financial Decision Framework, UX Research, Dashboard Design
Risk Visualization System, Behavioral Finance Mapping
Team: Self Initiated Case Study
Time: 3 Weeks
BRIEF
GOAL
IDEATION
MECHANISM
INTERVENTION
PROCESS
RESULT
How can we design a toy that inspires lasting meaning, flexibility, and imagination beyond one-time play?
GOAL OF THE PROJECT:
The aim was to design a rotating wooden carousel that encourages creativity and interactive storytelling. Expected to be both visually engaging and mechanically innovative, the toy was envisioned to offer a unique play experience through magnet-powered movable characters, making it exciting for group and solo play.
IDEATION:
Exploring Storytelling Through Form and Interaction
The ideation phase focused on translating storytelling into an interactive play experience. Inspired by castle environments, I explored how children could create evolving narratives through movement, discovery, and character-based play. Features such as a rotating base, magnet-embedded modular layers, and textile-clad characters were developed to add depth, flexibility, and imaginative possibilities to the toy.
3D MODELLING & MECHANISM:
At this stage, I used 3D modelling to refine the proportions and understand how the rotating base, multiple levels, openings, and play areas would work together. Mechanism and strength testing helped evaluate stability, movement, and durability, ensuring the toy could support repeated interaction while giving children the flexibility to create different stories through play.
PROCESS:
Each wooden component was cut, shaped, sanded, and tested before being assembled into the complete structure. The process involved aligning the rotating mechanism, securing the vertical supports, and building each level in stages. Continuous adjustments during assembly helped improve stability, movement, and the overall handcrafted finish.
CASTLE CAROUSEL:
The completed Castle Carousel brings together the rotating mechanism, layered wooden structure, and character-based play explored throughout the process. Each level creates a new space for children to discover, move characters, and build their own stories, allowing the experience to change with every interaction.
Castle Carousel is an open-ended wooden toy that brings together movement, storytelling, and imaginative play. Its rotating levels, hidden spaces, and movable magnetic textile characters allow children to rearrange scenes, assign new roles, and create a different story each time they play.
Designed to move beyond a single fixed narrative, the toy encourages curiosity, creative thinking, and independent exploration. Its handcrafted form and flexible play system create a meaningful experience that children can continuously rediscover.
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