Project: smoodles
Client: Cassidy Labs
Capabilities: design // PROTOTYPE // MANUFACTURing & Production
CLIENT REQUEST: Not many products out there can lastingly appeal to both kiddos and adults while also providing creative play and functionality to your everyday routine. The client wanted to create a simple but incredibly useful toy with limitless functionality for both kids and adults, bonus points for cuteness.
THE CHALLENGE: Developing a distinct family of characters that are friendly-looking, fun to play with and utilitarian for everyone in the family. Creating adorable personalities for otherwise boring objects (like cord managers) would provide long-standing and multipurpose use for everyone. Again, the cuteness factor was in major play here, too.
THE APPROACH: We researched cartoon-y type of characters and characterization of inanimate objects and how people of various age groups responded to them. There were lots of references to the Japanese “Kawaii” style and crude mockups made with clay and pipe cleaners to get scale and proportions correct.
THE RESULTS: The cutest little bendable, tactile and multi-purposeful cord ties you’ve ever seen. Silicone grade for easy cleaning and sustainability, and stimulating kids’ imaginations while also organizing their (and really anyone’s) stuff.
“Our mission is to maximize kids’ room to grow with intelligent and stimulating products that inspire them to explore, create, discover, and be silly.”
