Information
My Role
Individual project lead & industrial designer
I led all aspects of this independent project, from initial research and concept development through final design execution. I conducted user interviews, created mood boards, sketched concepts, developed the product family system, and refined the designs through multiple iterations based on feedback.
Project Context
Date: May 23 - June 08, 2023
Setting: Introduction to Industrial Design, Final Project
Tools: Pen, Pencil, Paper
Challenge
Children are struggling to stay hydrated throughout the school day, and lunchtime is a missed opportunity to change that.
- 75% of children (aged 4-8) do not meet the recommended daily water intake [Source]
- 87% of girls and 85% of boys (aged 9-13) do not meet the recommended daily water intake [Source]
- Over 54% of children and adolescents in the US are underhydrated [Source]
- 25% of children and adolescents drink no plain water at all [Source]
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At school, children consume 14% of their total daily fluid intake [Source]
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44% of home-packed school lunches contain bottled water [Source]
Despite clear evidence linking hydration to children's academic success, current systems fail to encourage healthy drinking habits. Children need an engaging approach that transforms hydration from a forgettable task into an enjoyable, rewarding part of their daily routine.
How might we empower children to develop positive relationships with hydration through more joyful everyday rituals?
Action
The project began with a commitment to understand the needs and behaviors of children when it comes to hydration. I explored the existing market of hydration products for grade-school students and conducted informal interviews with parents and children. Through these conversations, I identified a key opportunity: existing products lacked emotional engagement, were not playful enough, and failed to integrate seamlessly into children’s busy school routines.
Based on this feedback, and my vision for the product, I created a mood board to capture the visual and emotional qualities I wanted the product to evoke.
Initial sketches explored standalone concepts like an elephant-themed water bottle with a trunk-shaped spout and a fish-shaped bottle that squirted water (unfortunately, these sketches were accidentally thrown out during an overnight cleaning of our studio). However, feedback from my professor and classmates revealed the potential for a more comprehensive solution. Rather than a single product, the project evolved into designing a cohesive family of lunch and hydration products that would work together to support healthy habits.
The breakthrough came with the chameleon theme, which resonated strongly with the core values of playfulness, vibrancy, and adaptability. The chameleon's distinctive characteristics (color-changing ability, agile movements, and lush surrounding ecosystem) became the foundation for a collection including a water bottle, backpack lunchbox, food containers, and utensils.
Through multiple iterations, I refined key features:
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Color-changing elements that allowed children to personalize their bottles through touch
- Ergonomic handles and straps, and playful textures encouraging tactile interaction
- Practical considerations like ease of cleaning and durability
The final design creates an immersive, helping children develop a positive relationship with hydration (and nutrition) throughout their school day.
Result
A Chameleon-themed family of products for grade-school children to hydrate and eat with more joy.
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