Overview
Foraged Friends is a creative play kit designed to inspire children to connect with nature, ignite their imaginations, and promote inclusivity through hands-on activities. Each kit contains all the materials needed for kids to craft their own unique “foraged friend,” with the packaging doubling as a home for their creation. Additionally, the kit includes a field guide journal, encouraging children to document and share stories of their creations, further nurturing their creative potential and love for nature.
In this project, my role was to design the packaging that houses the children’s new friend, ensuring it is both functional and appealing to young explorers.
1. Research & Inspiration
To inform the design of Foraged Friends, I conducted research in three key areas:
Market Research
• Studied existing creative play kits and toys designed to encourage hands-on engagement.
• Analyzed how packaging plays a role in extending playtime beyond initial use.
• Explored products that emphasize sustainability and nature-based play.
User Insights
• Examined how children interact with open-ended play and self-expression through storytelling.
• Researched developmental benefits of hands-on activities and sensory play in early childhood.
• Considered accessibility and inclusivity, ensuring the kit could be enjoyed by a diverse range of children.
Design Inspiration
• Looked into sustainable packaging solutions, considering materials that are durable yet environmentally friendly.
• Explored how visual and tactile elements could encourage curiosity and interaction.
• Drew inspiration from playful, nature-themed aesthetics that would resonate with kids and their caregivers.
2. Research & Inspiration
Concept Development
I explored ways to make the packaging more than just a container by designing it as an interactive element that enhances play. This included experimenting with different shapes and structures to encourage engagement while ensuring it could be repurposed as a home for the foraged friend.
Traditional box packaging
Egg shaped packaging using felt material
3. Prototyping & Testing
I developed early sketches and paper prototypes to explore structural ideas, experimenting with materials to balance durability, sustainability, and affordability. Usability testing helped refine the design, ensuring the packaging was easy for kids to open, carry, and repurpose.
4. Refinement & Final Design
We finalized the packaging structure to be playful, functional, and easy to assemble, incorporating design details that reflect the organic and creative nature of the kit. The colors, graphics, and typography were carefully chosen to appeal to children while maintaining a clean, nature-inspired aesthetic.
The final packaging design using handmade felt
5. Final Outcome
The final Foraged Friends packaging works as both a storage solution and part of the play experience. Its flexible design lets kids customize and reuse it, adding to the fun, while the sustainable materials support the project’s focus on nature and eco-friendliness.
Inside the pack includes a Foraged Friends diary, homemade play dough, crayons, painted sunflower seeds as eyes, and 3D model parts
A Foraged Friend made during one of our test runs
Foraged Friends diary filled out by one of the kids during the test run
6. Reflection
This project reinforced my understanding of how design can extend beyond aesthetics to enhance user experience and storytelling. I learned how to balance creativity with functionality while considering real-world constraints like material sustainability and production feasibility. Working in a team setting strengthened my collaboration skills, as we had to ensure all aspects of the project—from branding to packaging to user engagement—were cohesive and aligned with our mission. Foraged Friends challenged me to think holistically about design, and it deepened my passion for creating experiences that are not only visually engaging but also meaningful and interactive.
