Overview
For this project, I had the opportunity to work in a group to create a new packaging solution for Fisher-Price's "Classic Xylophone" toy. My teammates consisted of Kira Powell (Graphic Design), Ge Wu (Industrial Design), and David Liebe (Industrial Design). We were given a few weeks to work on this project before we presented our final prototype before a panel of judges from Fisher-Price.
No one in our team, including myself, had ever worked in packaging design before this project, so this was quite the learning experience for all of us! We had a lot of fun coming up with a new and innovative packaging solution for this toy xylophone, that not only created an interesting opening experience but also offered a second life to the packaging as well.
Concept Sketches
Sketches by David Liebe
Sketches by Kira Powell
The first two images were by David Liebe and Kira Powell, respectively, while the last three feature my own sketches. Our first few concept sketches featured a lot of different shapes and orientations, as we wanted our packaging to stand out in a different way.
Then after some brainstorming and some field research, we decided to go with a simple rectangular design. With this design, we wanted the opening experience to be fun for both the parent and the child. We all agreed that incorporating the mobility function of the xylophone was an interesting idea—so we added a ramp!
Prototype 1
The first prototype was made by me. It is what I like to call "janky but to-scale." I didn't use any real measurements (preferring to eye-ball everything) as we didn't need this prototype to "look pretty." Our main focus with this prototype was to make sure our idea was feasible.
I used old cereal boxes, tape, and at one point I had to resort to stapling certain pieces together as I had run out of said tape. This initial prototype features the original design for the ramp and road, at a slightly higher incline than our final design. There is also a small cut-out near the bottom of the incline that was meant to house the xylophone's mallet.
Prototype 2
The second prototype was made by Ge Wu, at a much smaller scale. This prototype was used to test out some other features we had been discussing as a team, to see if these added elements would make it into our final product. The prototype was created using the same materials as the previous one (minus the staples).
As an industrial designer, Ge Wu was much more exact with his cutting and measuring—making his prototype look much nicer than my own. This prototype featured a new compartment for the xylophone's mallet, as well as a new mechanism to help contain the toy within the box without having to strap it down.
Final Prototype
As you can see our final design features bright and eye-catching colors, while also incorporating key iconography from Fisher-Price's own brand. We went with a closed-box design for our packaging solution as several of the parents we interviewed mentioned that they, "do not trust the cleanliness of the toys with open packaging." Our final design also features an alcove within the ramp, where the mallet for the xylophone can be stored.
Kira Powell and I worked on the graphic design aspect of this project together. She mainly tackled the interior of the packaging, while I worked on the outside of the box. Kira designed the music notes and star elements while I worked on the overall composition. In the end, David and Ge put together the final prototype while Kira and I added the final designs to it.
(From Left to Right)
Dante Quintana (Me), Kira Powell, Ge Wu, and David Liebe