Bright Drops

Bright Drops

Bright Drops

Services

Toy Design

Toy Design

Toy Design

UX Research

UX Research

UX Research

Year

2022

2022

2022

Bright Drops is a fun and educational toy for 5 year olds to learn sequencing and pattern recognition while playing with lights to make art.

Design a toy that teaches 5 year olds to recognize, repeat, and create color patterns. The toy should support directed and undirected play and emphasize creativity.

Design a toy that teaches 5 year olds to recognize, repeat, and create color patterns. The toy should support directed and undirected play and emphasize creativity.

Design a toy that teaches 5 year olds to recognize, repeat, and create color patterns. The toy should support directed and undirected play and emphasize creativity.

Background + Research

Background + Research

Background + Research

I conducted background research on early childhood education to
understand what five-year-olds have already learned and what
concepts they are currently developing. This helped me identify key
opportunities for teaching pattern recognition in a way that aligns with
their cognitive and motor skill development.

We conducted background research to understand the state of current campus coffeeshops and the how students, faculty, and visitors interact with them.

FInal concept

FInal concept

FInal concept

Electronic testing

Electronic testing

Electronic testing

Final Design

Final Design

Final Design

Bright Drops consists of a 9x9 board of LEDs which when pressed,
cycles through WROYGBV, allowing users to create art with lights.
The toy is made using Adafruit NeoTrellis boards is coded in Arduino IDE.

Bright Drops consists of a 9x9 board of LEDs which when pressed, cycles through WROYGBV, allowing users to create art with lights.

The toy is made using Adafruit NeoTrellis boards is coded in Arduino IDE.

Bright Drops consists of a 9x9 board of LEDs which when pressed,
cycles through WROYGBV, allowing users to create art with lights.
The toy is made using Adafruit NeoTrellis boards is coded in Arduino IDE.

Bright Drops is accompanied by a pattern book that provides both
structured challenges and space for creativity.

The book includes:

  • Pre-designed patterns for children to follow, reinforcing pattern
    recognition.

  • Blank grids that allow children to document their own creations,
    encouraging freeform play.

  • Color-number correlations, helping children connect numbers
    to colors in a simple, intuitive way.

By combining interactive lights with a structured yet flexible learning
approach, Bright Drops supports both directed and undirected play,
helping children build confidence in pattern-making while fostering
creativity.

Bright Drops is accompanied by a pattern book that provides both structured challenges and space for creativity.

The book includes:

  • Pre-designed patterns for children to follow, reinforcing pattern
    recognition.

  • Blank grids that allow children to document their own creations,
    encouraging freeform play.

  • Color-number correlations, helping children connect numbers
    to colors in a simple, intuitive way.

By combining interactive lights with a structured yet flexible learning approach, Bright Drops supports both directed and undirected play, helping children build confidence in pattern-making while fostering creativity.