Project

Team (Sue, Adrija, Sahana)

Duration

6 Weeks
January 2026~ April 2026

Tools

Figma, Adobe After Effects, Illustrator

Tools

Figma, Adobe After Effects, Illustrator

My Role

Cross-functional Product designer

Concept design Led UX design and user research. Independently developed UI design. Coordinated project timeline and cross-team collaboration.

My Role

Cross-functional Product designer

Concept design Led UX design and user research. Independently developed UI design. Coordinated project timeline and cross-team collaboration.

Overview

A children's museum installation that turns building blocks into a living wall.

As children combine blocks into creatures, the wall reads each build and places it inside a projected ecosystem — a forest, river, or sky where the creature begins to grow, hide, and change alongside others. I led the tangible design (block form, weight, and grip for ages 4–8) and directed the concept video (narration, copy, and motion sequences).

Overview

A children's museum installation that turns building blocks into a living wall.

As children combine blocks into creatures, the wall reads each build and places it inside a projected ecosystem — a forest, river, or sky where the creature begins to grow, hide, and change alongside others. I led the tangible design (block form, weight, and grip for ages 4–8) and directed the concept video (narration, copy, and motion sequences).

Final Design

Concept video

Final Design

Concept video

The components

Shape of the structures are matched to things from nature

As kids build different shapes with blocks, the detection mechanism identifies the shape and associates it to objects in the natural world. We built a prototype of this system by detecting overall shape, and matching these words to natural objects that shared the same properties.

The components

Shape of the structures are matched to things from nature

As kids build different shapes with blocks, the detection mechanism identifies the shape and associates it to objects in the natural world. We built a prototype of this system by detecting overall shape, and matching these words to natural objects that shared the same properties.

Tall

Branching

Wide, low

Curved

The table and the blocks

Kids build and press the button, the detection is activated, and they see the object they're made which travels to the wall.

The table and the blocks

Kids build and press the button, the detection is activated, and they see the object they're made which travels to the wall.

Toys activate parts of the wall.

At the wall, where they discover these hidden creatures, the toys are intentionally placed toys at a height that matched it for kids. As they do so, the animations that come up are animated upwards to add to scale and wonder.

Toys activate parts of the wall.

At the wall, where they discover these hidden creatures, the toys are intentionally placed toys at a height that matched it for kids. As they do so, the animations that come up are animated upwards to add to scale and wonder.

Four types of the toys

we have 4 toys, and they are each designed for different actions, to account for different age groups, they have varying levels of resistance and sizes. They are designed to have textures on them, to activate perceptual curiosity in children

Four types of the toys

we have 4 toys, and they are each designed for different actions, to account for different age groups, they have varying levels of resistance and sizes. They are designed to have textures on them, to activate perceptual curiosity in children

The problem we started with

The Frictionless Childhood

Early use of touchscreens has started to strip children of the "micro-challenges" that naturally build hand strength and coordination. Children are exposed to the digital world at a very early age. 40% of two-year-olds already own a personal tablet.

The problem we started with

The Frictionless Childhood

Early use of touchscreens has started to strip children of the "micro-challenges" that naturally build hand strength and coordination. Children are exposed to the digital world at a very early age. 40% of two-year-olds already own a personal tablet.

How Much Screen Time Are Kids Getting in the U.S. in 2025?. Accessed at Feb 11, 2026
https://www.monstermath.app/blog/how-much-screen-time-are-kids-getting-in-the-us-in-2025

Young children's ability to execute precise movements in the classroom is significantly diminishing.

Young children's ability to execute precise movements in the classroom is significantly diminishing.

Teachers say students are struggling with basic tools as compared to 5 years ago

Teachers say there is an increase in students who cannot perform life skills like tying shoelaces or zipping coats

Dutra, R. P., Castro, Y. M., Moran, V., Mattos, V. G. W., Rodrigues, P. V. M., Bacil, E. D. A., & da Silva, M. P. (2025). Association Between Exposure to Smartphones and Tablets and Motor Development in Early Childhood: A Systematic Review. Child: care, health and development,

The average handgrip strength of children starting kindergarten has dropped by about 15–20% compared to ten years ago. This is called Manual Thinning.

The average handgrip strength of children starting kindergarten has dropped by about 15–20% compared to ten years ago. This is called Manual Thinning.

Kids’ fine motor skills are declining—how screens and modern childhood shape growth. Accessed at Feb 10, 2026.
https://www.mother.ly/child/child-milestones/fine-motor-skills-declining-in-children/

How this impacts curiosity

Limited manual dexterity leads to underdeveloped fine motor skills, which lowers intellectual engagement during play. The gap between what a child can imagine and what their hands can execute widens. Over time, this suppresses the natural inquiry that drives a child to ask why and how.

How this impacts curiosity

Limited manual dexterity leads to underdeveloped fine motor skills, which lowers intellectual engagement during play. The gap between what a child can imagine and what their hands can execute widens. Over time, this suppresses the natural inquiry that drives a child to ask why and how.

How this impacts curiosity

Limited manual dexterity leads to underdeveloped fine motor skills, which lowers intellectual engagement during play. The gap between what a child can imagine and what their hands can execute widens. Over time, this suppresses the natural inquiry that drives a child to ask why and how.

How this impacts curiosity

Limited manual dexterity leads to underdeveloped fine motor skills, which lowers intellectual engagement during play. The gap between what a child can imagine and what their hands can execute widens. Over time, this suppresses the natural inquiry that drives a child to ask why and how.

a woman with her back to the camera
Who is it most important for?

4-8 years old

Exploration over explanation

Sensory verification phase

Transition from sensory to systematic thinking

Józsa K, Oo TZ, Borbélyová D, Zentai G. Exploring the Growth and Predictors of Fine Motor Skills in Young Children Aged 4–8 Years. Education Sciences. 2023

How Might We

Create multi-sensory interactions that stimulate motor skills in children to spark wonder and encourage perceptual curiosity?

What I made 2

The concept video introducing Peek-a-World

I directed the concept video that is the first version of the work the museum sees, and it had to carry the same softness the installation itself carries.

What I made 2

The concept video introducing Peek-a-World

I directed the concept video that is the first version of the work the museum sees, and it had to carry the same softness the installation itself carries.

What I made 3

The thinking that connected them

The blocks and the video came from the same frame I helped shape: frictionless childhood needs friction returned, not removed. Once that frame held, the structure followed — physical build, digital response, ecosystem as the bridge. I designed both ends of that bridge so the seam wouldn't show.

What I made 3

The thinking that connected them

The blocks and the video came from the same frame I helped shape: frictionless childhood needs friction returned, not removed. Once that frame held, the structure followed — physical build, digital response, ecosystem as the bridge. I designed both ends of that bridge so the seam wouldn't show.

Concept evolution

The thinking that connected them

The blocks and the video came from the same frame I helped shape: frictionless childhood needs friction returned, not removed. Once that frame held, the structure followed — physical build, digital response, ecosystem as the bridge. I designed both ends of that bridge so the seam wouldn't show.

Concept evolution

The thinking that connected them

The blocks and the video came from the same frame I helped shape: frictionless childhood needs friction returned, not removed. Once that frame held, the structure followed — physical build, digital response, ecosystem as the bridge. I designed both ends of that bridge so the seam wouldn't show.

Go to the Final Design

Designed by
Sue Min Hong

Designed by
Sue Min Hong

Designed by
Sue Min Hong

Designed by
Sue Min Hong