Dodoo - Centre Pompidou art-inspired comfort for kids
Designing an emotionally connected and visually stimulating cuddly toy experience for children
Overview
ROLE
Product Design / UX Research / Visual Design
Tools used:
Adobe Suite / Midjourney
Background
The Center Pompidou (Paris musem), symbol of artistic innovation, has launched a unique project : Dodoo, a collection of cuddly toys for children inspired by the vibrant art of Keith Haring. Combining creativity and comfort, Dodoo reinvents the cuddly toy by transforming it into a playful work of art that accompanies children in their daily discoveries. This project aims to create a strong emotional bond between children and their cuddly toys while captivating parents looking for aesthetic and educational products. Dodoo embodies the perfect marriage between art and everyday life, transforming a simple cuddly toy into a source of comfort and inspiration.
Problems
Create visually stimulating comforters while remaining practical and secure.
Facilitate handling by children aged 0 to 5 years.
Meet parents' expectations in terms of durability, maintenance and design.
Project Goals
Design fun and artistic cuddly toys, inspiring curiosity.
Offer products that are safe and easy to maintain.
Test usability with families to refine the final design.
01 / Empathize - Exploring the user's needs
Overview
Research approach
Competitive analysis
Research approach
To launch Dodoo, the brand of comfort toys inspired by Keith Haring, a series of preliminary interviews was conducted with parents of children aged 0 to 5 years old. The objective was to understand their expectations in terms of safety, aesthetics and sensory stimulation for their children. These interviews revealed key insights into parents' needs, including the importance of the artistic and emotional aspect in choosing comfort toys.
Children's Understanding of Comfort Toys
The study revealed that young children are drawn to simple shapes, expressive faces, and bright colors, which stimulate their senses and learning. As they grow, they create stories around their toys, seeking engaging, recognizable characters. Comfort toys play a key role in emotional and sensory development, providing both comfort and creativity.
Competitive Analysis
An audit of competitors such as Lilliputiens, Moulin Roty, and Djeco was also carried out. Dodoo stands out for its unique artistic dimension, its financial accessibility, and its ability to stimulate children from an early age, by combining contemporary aesthetics and functionality.
03 / Prototype 01 - Creating the first product
Initial Dodoo Prototypes
The first prototypes of Dodoo, inspired by Keith Haring’s vibrant art, feature bold, simple shapes and expressive faces that captivate young children. These prototypes are designed with safety in mind, using soft, durable materials that are easy to clean. Each doudou incorporates bright colors to stimulate visual engagement and is crafted to be both comforting and durable. The prototypes aim to blend artistic flair with practicality, offering a unique combination of creative design and functional benefits for both children and parents.
Persona development : Élise Dupont
Élise is a young mother living in a small Parisian apartment with her partner, also creative. Passionate about contemporary art, she wants her daughter Camille to be exposed to artistic elements from a young age. For her, each object in her baby's environment must be both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
Persona development : Julien Martin
Julien is a father living with his wife and their 2-year-old son Hugo. Passionate about technology and design, he likes toys that combine innovation and aesthetics. He wants Hugo to develop his creativity while playing and for his toys to evolve with him over time.
Persona development : Claire Lefebvre
Claire is a single mother who works from home. She raises her daughter Léa, 4 years old, with an approach that values independence and creativity. Passionate about architecture and modern design, Claire seeks objects for her daughter that are both aesthetic and functional, preferring toys that have an artistic or cultural dimension.
Problems to solve
How can we create a cuddly toy that is safe, stimulating and visually appealing for young children?
How can we ensure that the comforter is durable, easy to clean, and maintains its aesthetic appeal over time?
How can we integrate the artistic inspiration of Keith Haring in an engaging and accessible way for children?
05 / Test - Time to test !
04 / Prototype 02 - Bringing the vision to life !
Final Dodoo Prototypes
The final Dodoo prototypes have been carefully refined to meet the needs of children across various age groups. Each doudou features vibrant, Keith Haring-inspired designs with bold, simple shapes and expressive faces that captivate and engage.
For infants, the doudous are made from ultra-soft, durable materials that are gentle on delicate skin and easy to clean, ensuring both comfort and hygiene. For toddlers, the prototypes are designed to withstand energetic play while stimulating imagination with dynamic colors and patterns.
These final prototypes strike a balance between artistic flair and practical functionality, offering a comforting and safe experience tailored to the developmental stages of young children.
Findings :
Cleaning challenges : Parents reported that while the doudous were machine washable, certain stains and spills proved difficult to remove completely, leading to concerns about maintaining hygiene over time.
Child reactions : Not all children were immediately drawn to the expressive faces or artistic patterns. Some showed a preference for more familiar or classic shapes, affecting the overall appeal of the product.
Parent acceptance : Feedback indicated that while the artistic design was appreciated, some parents felt the prototypes were priced higher than expected for comfort toys, leading to concerns about affordability and value.
Size and handling : The dimensions of a few prototypes were found to be either too large or too small for easy handling by children, affecting their ability to interact comfortably with the doudous.
Branding
The branding for Dodoo seamlessly blends artistic innovation with playful functionality. Inspired by Keith Haring’s iconic art, the brand features bold, vibrant colors and expressive designs that captivate young imaginations. The visual identity is designed to be both eye-catching and reassuring, reflecting the playful yet sophisticated essence of the doudous. Dodoo’s branding embodies creativity and comfort, making each doudou not just a toy, but a piece of art that engages and delights both children and parents.
02 / Define - Establishing the user's needs and problems
Overview
Persona development
Problem statements
Monitor customer feedback : Collect and analyze feedback from customers to assess the doudous’ performance in the market. Use this data to address any emerging issues and refine future product iterations.
Evaluate sales and market performance : Track sales data and market trends to measure the success of the product launch. Identify areas for improvement and opportunities for expanding the product line or enhancing marketing efforts.
Engage with customers : Develop ongoing engagement strategies, such as social media campaigns and customer loyalty programs, to build a strong community around the Dodoo brand and foster long-term relationships with consumers.
Reflections & Take-aways
Reflections
Design balance : Striking the right balance between artistic inspiration and practical usability is crucial. The integration of Keith Haring’s art into doudous needed to be both visually appealing and functional for children.
User-centric approach : Understanding the needs and preferences of both children and parents is key to designing successful products. Observations from real-life interactions provided invaluable insights that shaped the final prototypes.
Market responsiveness : The importance of adapting to feedback and market trends became evident. Iterative testing and responsive adjustments are vital for product success and customer satisfaction.
Lessons Learned
Prototype iteration : Continuous refinement based on user feedback is essential. Initial prototypes are a starting point, and subsequent adjustments are necessary to address practical issues and enhance user experience.
Engagement and appeal : Combining artistic elements with practical features can be challenging but rewarding. It’s important to ensure that designs not only look good but also resonate with the target age group and meet safety standards.
Customer feedback integration : Actively seeking and incorporating feedback from both children and parents helps in fine-tuning the product and aligning it with user expectations, ultimately leading to a more successful market entry.