The Need for Open-Ended Play
Modern children’s toys are increasingly designed with specific functions and narratives, leaving little room for imaginative, open-ended play. This limits children’s ability to create their own stories and characters.
In response, I developed the MagicVerse dollhouse—a transformative project aimed at fostering creativity and customization.
The toy encourages children to design their own characters, furniture, and play environments through step-by-step origami, coloring pieces, pop-up elements, and movable wallpapers. MagicVerse aims to empower children by giving them control over their own play experiences, promoting sustainable, long-term use with minimal waste.
Empowering Children to Design
The overarching goal of MagicVerse is to create a toy that encourages children to think and design for themselves.
By offering a modular, customizable play kit, the dollhouse helps cultivate creativity, critical thinking, and social skills. The toy not only promotes unstructured play but also serves as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional toys, made of only paper, cardboard, and wood.
Through this product, children can create their own magical worlds, enhancing their ability to engage in storytelling, problem-solving, and imaginative play. MagicVerse is designed to grow with the child, offering endless possibilities for creative expression.
Prototyping and Playtesting
The development of MagicVerse involved extensive research, brainstorming, and prototyping. I began by experimenting with paper mockups, exploring different ways to create a modular play kit.
After building several rough prototypes, I conducted playtesting with children to understand which elements they loved and which needed refinement. I considered scale, material choices, graphic design styles, color palettes, and customization options. I asked myself questions such as, “How should the walls connect?” and “What props will enhance play?”
By combining user testing, feedback from parents, peers, and educators, and iterative development, I was able to refine the design to meet the needs of children and support their creativity.
The Final Design
Through research and testing, it became clear that children thrive in environments that encourage unstructured, open-ended play. Thus, MagicVerse to offer a balance of guidance and freedom, allowing kids to shape their own play experiences.
The final product consists of an open-ended kit with modular walls, floors, accessories, a magnetic doll, clothing, and standalone props. The kit empowers children to become architects of their own worlds, creating stories of camping in the city or even surfing on a farm. The possibilities are endless.
Expanding MagicVerse in the Future
MagicVerse presents a refreshing approach to traditional dollhouses by encouraging hands-on, imaginative play in an era dominated by technology. This toy fosters holistic child development by nurturing creativity and cognitive skills. Future iterations could involve more extensive playtesting to refine the kit’s elements and determine the ideal balance of accessories.
Additionally, MagicVerse could expand into specialized kits, such as mini travel-sized kits, historical kits, or even global kits designed to introduce children to different cultures. By continuing to evolve, MagicVerse has the potential to redefine how children engage with toys and flex their imaginations.