CODING TOY
2019
A startup founder approached me to turn a rough tech pack into a screen-free educational toy that could launch his second company. The goal was to teach early coding concepts without digital devices.
What began as a generic control box and rolling robot needed a full narrative, character, and world that would resonate with children. Through design and branding, the system evolved into Mochi, a storytelling bear that anchors the entire play experience.
PERIMETERS
Constraints:
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Exterior housing to be made of laser cut wood and simple joinery for at home assembly. .
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Design around existing electronics, refine coding block and control board connection.
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Incorporate Montessori-style learning outcomes where possible and appropriate.
Business Need: Create a marketable product and identity capable of supporting a full ecosystem.
Timeline: 3 months.
On average, children ages 8-12 in the United States spend 4-6 hours a day watching or using screens, and teens spend up to 9 hours.
PROBLEM: SCREENS
Children can become overly involved with video-games. The more children spend with screens, the more difficult it becomes to separate a child from it.
Too much screen time can lead to:
• Lower grades in school
• Reading fewer books
• Less time learning
SOLUTION
INITIAL TECH PACK
Through creative, collaborative play and Montessori-style learning, Mochi delivers coding concepts without screens! This 3 part system allows children to understand and develop code while comprehending the effect code has on the world around us.
Part 1. Robot
The robot responds after the user lays a combination of coding blocks on the control board.
Part 2. Coding Block
Each block has a different command whether it be: Directional, FUNction or Mystery
Part 3. Control Board
Arrange your blocks & press "Start" and watch Mochi go!
IDEATION
KEY INSIGHTS
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Rectangular shapes for scoped manufacture method offered cleanest closure and best user quality.
- A strong narrative framework increases replay value and learning retention.
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Screen-free coding demands physical cues that are familiar.
A1
A2
CONCEPT INDEX
A).Coding Block
B). Control Board
C). Robot​
A3
B1
B2
B4
B3
C1
C2
C4
A4
B5
C5
C3
CONCEPT REFINEMENT
OUTCOME
Built the visual language, character design, and “bear block” system; refined all components (robot, coding blocks, control board) through sketching, prototyping, and iteration. Designed the full product narrative to connect gameplay across books, maps, and tokens.
The rebrand and product design established Mochi as a kid-friendly STEM system and enabled successful crowdfunding, helping launch the founder’s second company.
