Exploring play as a tool for comfort, expression, and connection in contexts shaped by displacement. It brings together child-centered design and scalable manufacturing to support development in resource-limited environments.
Codesigned with Tai Vo, Joey Kim & The Power Of Play
World building, interpretative & imaginary organization, creative environment building
WHAT?
Manufacturable play objects designed to support child development in refugee camps. The focus is on interactive artifacts that enable world-building, imaginative play, and emotional expression, developed in response to the needs of children facing trauma in Gorom Refuge Camp, South Sudan, in collaboration with The Power of Play.
Photographed by Perrin Grauer
Photographed by Perrin Grauer
Photographed by Perrin Grauer
HOW?
The work integrated research, design, and fabrication within a team of three. The interactive object is composed of repetitive modular elements designed for efficient production using semi-automated wood manufacturing processes. Fabricated from Baltic Birch plywood using a pin router, the system explores multiple connection strategies that allow flexible configurations. Principles of product semantics guided the relationship between form and interaction, supporting hand–eye coordination, roleplay, imagination, and emotional expression, while enabling safe use with minimal adult supervision.
initial prototypes
Why?
Access to play is essential for children’s emotional and cognitive development, particularly in contexts of displacement and trauma. By prioritizing manufacturability and scalability alongside care-centered design, this work demonstrates how play objects can be responsibly produced and adapted for broader impact. The initial outcome will move forward to a psychology department for further modification and study, creating a foundation for future research, iteration, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Kimberly Brown in frame
