Designed around the physical and social needs of kids, catering to and enhancing their daily activities, whilst keeping them in contact with their parents. PlayPal aims to support a healthier relationship with technology.

Strategic Product Design
Client: Philips
Project Duration: 10 weeks
Team Members: Laurenz Simonis
Umeå Institute of Design, 2021

KIDS ARE ON THEIR
PHONES TOO SOON.

Our research has found that the age from which kids have access to the internet is getting lower. As a consequence, kids are being exposed to content that is not appropriate for their age (violence, news casts, sex...).

BUT PARENTS NEED TO GET
AHOLD OF THEIR KIDS EASILY.

In a survey from 2016, 90 percent of parents answered the reason for getting their kids wireless service is to get a hold of them easily. This has been confirmed in our personal research time and time again.

How may we help kids to ease into smartphone use and establish a healthy relationship with technology?

How may we allow parents to get hold of their children easily while protecting the kids from early exposure to the internet?

Say Hello
to Play Pal!

Welcome to a world filed with curiosity, exploration and fun toghether with your
knew companion, Play Pal!

Overview

The main body holds all the functionality need for telecommunication, but the modules is where the fun starts!The attachments and modules slide and click smoothly into place and are detached via designated release button. The action button changes its purpose depending on the module/setting. Scrolling through the different options is just pure fun using the joystick!

Children: The main user of the physical Playpal. Being a trusty companion on all adventures, Playpal offers a wide range of features to explore and connect, while always being able to reach out for a parent if needed.

Children plus parents: The difital side of Playpal enables the children to relive their discoveries and achivements in their parents company. This way, parents get to share their childrens experience and can help them ease into the use of digital devices in a controlled enviroment.

Parents: The parents side of the digial Playpal allows for parents to keep track of their childrens activities and whearabouts, making them independentwhile just being a call away. 

We we’re aiming to design the Playpal as a 3-way experience. Both stakeholders involved get their own dedicated features and all the information they need, but when they come together is when the magic happens.

PROCESS