Modular indoor play and storage product design
Modular indoor play and storage product design
Modular indoor play and storage product design
Modigo reimagines indoor play for families, delivering modular structures that spark children’s development while fitting seamlessly into parents’ compact spaces.
As the UX researcher and product designer, I drove the project from initial user exploration to hands-on prototyping, crafting and rendering a flexible cube system. This journey mapped user challenges and crystallized a solution tailored to real-world use.
The resulting design, refined through iterative testing and 3D rendering, won strong approval from peers and instructors, balancing durability, playfulness, and adaptability for growing kids.
Modigo reimagines indoor play for families, delivering modular structures that spark children’s development while fitting seamlessly into parents’ compact spaces.
As the UX researcher and product designer, I drove the project from initial user exploration to hands-on prototyping, crafting and rendering a flexible cube system. This journey mapped user challenges and crystallized a solution tailored to real-world use.
The resulting design, refined through iterative testing and 3D rendering, won strong approval from peers and instructors, balancing durability, playfulness, and adaptability for growing kids.
Client
Academic Instructor
Academic
Instructor
Year
sep 2024 - dec 2024
type
team based
Role
Product | UX Designer
DELIVERABLES
Modular Play System
User Research Insights
Prototyping
overview
This project was developed as part of the User-Centered Design course within the Human-Centered Design & Engineering Master’s program at the University of Washington.
This project was developed as part of the User-Centered Design course within the Human-Centered Design & Engineering Master’s program at the University of Washington.
[fig 1]
Showcase poster
challenge
How can we create multifunctional, immersive, and durable indoor play structures that foster children’s development while adapting to parents’ needs?
How can we create multifunctional, immersive, and durable indoor play structures that foster children’s development while adapting to parents’ needs?
[video 1]
Showcase video
design process
To guide this process, we followed the structure of the Double Diamond method, while remaining flexible to ensure the solution was both innovative and practically beneficial to our personas.
To guide this process, we followed the structure of the Double Diamond method, while remaining flexible to ensure the solution was both innovative and practically beneficial to our personas.
[fig 1]
Double Diamond Design Process
research methods
After initial research revealed the importance of ‘risky play’ for development and the impacts of excessive screen time, we conducted survey, semi-structured interviews, and guided tours.
Survey: to gather broad insights from diverse families
Semi-Structured Interviews: to explore family lives and play needs
Guided Tours: to observe how families use their spaces in real-time
All participants were parents with one or more children under 12 years old, representing a range of home sizes, income levels, and parenting styles.
After initial research revealed the importance of ‘risky play’ for development and the impacts of excessive screen time, we conducted survey, semi-structured interviews, and guided tours.
Survey: to gather broad insights from diverse families
Semi-Structured Interviews: to explore family lives and play needs
Guided Tours: to observe how families use their spaces in real-time
All participants were parents with one or more children under 12 years old, representing a range of home sizes, income levels, and parenting styles.
After initial research revealed the importance of ‘risky play’ for development and the impacts of excessive screen time, we conducted survey, semi-structured interviews, and guided tours.
Survey: to gather broad insights from diverse families
Semi-Structured Interviews: to explore family lives and play needs
Guided Tours: to observe how families use their spaces in real-time
All participants were parents with one or more children under 12 years old, representing a range of home sizes, income levels, and parenting styles.
research questions
What challenges do families encounter in facilitating play for their children?
How do home environments affect children’s play activities?
What influences parents’ choices for indoor versus outdoor play?
How do seasonal changes affect children’s activity levels and preferences?
What challenges do families encounter in facilitating play for their children?
How do home environments affect children’s play activities?
What influences parents’ choices for indoor versus outdoor play?
How do seasonal changes affect children’s activity levels and preferences?
personas
After gathering, organizing, and synthesizing our findings, we developed two user personas to guide the design of our solution.
After gathering, organizing, and synthesizing our findings, we developed two user personas to guide the design of our solution.
[fig 2]
Persona of a parent with a large home space, remote job, and two year old child
[fig 3]
Persona of a parent in an apartment with two children
goals
Based on our personas, we determined that the design solution should be…
Based on our personas, we determined that the design solution should be…
1. Space-efficient — suitable for shared spaces with built-in storage and modular flexibility
2. Adaptable — evolves with a child’s changing needs and accommodates multiple age groups
3. Developmental — supports immersive play and fosters cognitive and physical growth
4. Safe and Sustainable — made from non-hazardous materials, durable for long-term use
1. Space-efficient — suitable for shared spaces with built-in storage and modular flexibility
2. Adaptable — evolves with a child’s changing needs and accommodates multiple age groups
3. Developmental — supports immersive play and fosters cognitive and physical growth
4. Safe and Sustainable — made from non-hazardous materials, durable for long-term use
Ideation
We followed the steps in the sprint process to map, sketch, and decide.
We followed the steps in the sprint process to map, sketch, and decide.
[fig 4]
Initial Group Sketches
[fig 5]
Refining sketches to best meet our design goals
storyboard
We crafted detailed storyboarding to generating and fine-tuning ideas.
We crafted detailed storyboarding to generating and fine-tuning ideas.
[fig 6]
Natasha & Modigo
prototyping
We selected the modular cube concept from our sketches for its adaptability to various play spaces. A mini-scale cardboard prototype tested the design’s versatility for creative configurations in various scenarios.
We selected the modular cube concept from our sketches for its adaptability to various play spaces. A mini-scale cardboard prototype tested the design’s versatility for creative configurations in various scenarios.
[fig 7]
Mini Scale Prototype for Usability Testing
iteration
Usability testing showed the solution’s versatility, with each participant creating unique configurations for the scenarios. However, concerns arose about scale, structural durability, and feeling overwhelmed by endless possibilities.
These insights guided us to finalize a standard size, design durable connections, and conceptualize a companion app for inspiration and secure configurations.
Usability testing showed the solution’s versatility, with each participant creating unique configurations for the scenarios. However, concerns arose about scale, structural durability, and feeling overwhelmed by endless possibilities.
These insights guided us to finalize a standard size, design durable connections, and conceptualize a companion app for inspiration and secure configurations.
[fig 8]
Standard Cube Design
[fig 9]
Companion App Prototype
solutions
The final solution is a modular cube system with built-in storage and customizable attachments, offering endless configurations to fit your space and your child’s needs.
The final solution is a modular cube system with built-in storage and customizable attachments, offering endless configurations to fit your space and your child’s needs.
[fig 10]
Modigo 3D Rendering
Companion APP: Connecting pieces and scanning spaces
Companion APP: Connecting pieces and scanning spaces
[fig 11]
Interface Walkthrough
impact
Validated through usability testing, the modular system earned enthusiastic feedback from peers and instructors, proving its potential to redefine family playtime with durability and creativity.
With more time, our team would focus on building a full-scale physical prototype using wood and metal, developing functional attachment pieces, and conducting thorough testing to evaluate durability and usability.
Validated through usability testing, the modular system earned enthusiastic feedback from peers and instructors, proving its potential to redefine family playtime with durability and creativity.
With more time, our team would focus on building a full-scale physical prototype using wood and metal, developing functional attachment pieces, and conducting thorough testing to evaluate durability and usability.