Playhaus is a tactile learning kit that introduces foundational design principles through play.
The project explores how physical interaction with shape, form, and composition can support the development of visual thinking. The goal is to encourage children to experiment, construct, and communicate ideas through making.
Included within the kit is a set of stencils, wooden blocks, a memory game, and more- each designed as reusable tools for ongoing creative exploration.
RESEARCH
I began by looking at how foundational design principles have historically been taught, focusing on the Bauhaus and early kindergarten models. I studied Bauhaus preliminary course work and analyzed how students engaged with color, material, and form through repetition and variation. I paid close attention to how these exercises were structured: open-ended, hands-on, and rooted in experimentation.
In parallel, I researched Froebel’s Gifts, looking at the individual components and how they were intended to be used.
01 Stencil Set
As the starting point for the project, the stencils established the core logic of Playhaus: simplifying complex images into essential elements.
Drawing is introduced as a process of constructing images through shape. Rather than starting from observation, users begin with a limited set of geometric forms, encouraging them to build compositions through placement, scale, and repetition.
The final set is produced on 5x8in clear acrylic sheets. Transparency allows shapes to be easily layered and repositioned.
02 Memory Game
This component emerged from a moment of constraint. When I found myself stuck, I returned to the stencil set and began experimenting with how its shapes could be used. What started as a simple exercise quickly became a set of icons that felt playful and cohesive.
The final deck consists of 32 cards (16 matches), a size that keeps the game manageable and engaging for younger users.
03 Block Party
"Block Party" is a set of 36 1inch cube blocks, each face presenting a simple geometric form. This component is included in the kit as a way to introduce design thinking. Users are encouraged to construct basic patterns and images using these basic shapes.
Through experimentation, I narrowed the system down to a small set of forms. Some are repeated across every block, and others used more selectively to create variation.
I then developed a set of 52 prompt cards that demonstrate different images users can recreate. These act as guided challenges, supporting step-by-step construction.
Each card introduces one of three different difficulty levels by changing the number of required blocks. While the larger grid offers more possibility, I found it could feel overwhelming for younger users, so the scaled levels help maintain engagement while still encouraging progression.
