Kids toy xylophone

A self guided three day design blitz aimed at rapid concept development in toy design.

About

Market research shows that parents prefer to buy simple and classic toys rather than toys that rely on screens or technology to engage the child. Following these trends, I decided to design a toy xylophone - a classic toy that I could put my own creative spin on.

Sketches

My sketches started as very basic forms that developed into fun and playful ideas. I really enjoyed being creative in a childish way and was excited to pursue 2 of my favorite ideas further!

Concept 1 : Nautical Xylophone

Like many classic toys, this boat themed xylophone is made almost entirely out of painted wood. Once the playtime is over, the mallets store away just like the oars on a boat!

This toy xylophone comes with a simple play-along song to introduce kids into music in a fun and engaging way! This design features no small parts or sharp corners, giving parents peace of mind.

Concept 2 : Puppy Dog Xylophone

This dog inspired xylophone is sure to be a child’s best friend! This puppy dog has a mallet at the end of its leash so it will never get left behind or lost. His laminated plywood construction lends itself well to a classic toy design aesthetic because of its simplicity in its form, construction, and materials.

This puppy dog xylophone is a fun spin on the classic toy and encourages children to have fun while playing with music!

Manufacturing

The body of this toy is constructed largely out of laser cut wood with a screen printed graphic. The nose piece is the only part that would require significant investment (tooling). Alternatively, this nose piece could be screen printed to keep to a tighter budget. The keys themselves are made out of anodized aluminum and the leash that tethers the mallet is made out of a braided nylon rope and is glued into a hole near the base of the xylophone. These simple materials and easy assembly helps to drive the price of this toy down to around the $20 price point.

This puppy dog xylophone is a fun spin on the classic toy and encourages children to have fun while playing with music!