This week, after our group tutorial, we decided to change our original product idea. Instead of the self-charging dance mat, we changed it to a children’s toy that could charge a user’s phone through methods such as a hand crank, solar power, or batteries. At first this meant reworking some of the research I had already done, especially the market research template I had created, but in the end, I found this new idea much easier to explore.
I carried out market research into existing products and found that hand-crank and solar-powered items are much more common and realistic to research than a self-charging dance mat. This helped me understand the importance of adapting ideas when something is not as practical as it first seemed. It also showed me that changing direction is sometimes necessary to make a project stronger.
I also started looking into Figma after Diana and Jamie mentioned that it was a good tool for prototyping and design. This was useful because it introduced me to a platform that could help visualise app ideas more clearly. Alongside this, I researched fun facts about electricity for children and brainstormed possible app functions.
One thing I found especially interesting was researching design considerations for children’s apps. It made me realise there is a big difference between designing for children and designing for adults, especially in terms of simplicity, engagement, and age-appropriate content.
