Curio Tray
ROLE
Product Designer
Lead Fabricator
SKILLS
Woodworking
Prototyping
AUDIENCE
Hospitalized Children
TIMELINE
4 Weeks
Design Thinking
TOOLS
X-Tool
Hand Tools
Laser Cutter
Contribution
Involved in crafting the concept, design philosophy, and physical fabrication. I helped shape the tray’s purpose as a tool for creativity and development, ensuring it was safe, user-friendly, and adaptable for hospitalized children. Through combining design thinking and a desire for quality craftsmanship, I brought the vision to life, resulting in a product that balances functionality and meaningful impact.
Deliverables
Case Study | Philosophy | Physical Prototype | Presentation
Collaborators
Student Judges Choice ADDY Award
RESEARCH
Play is more than recreation—it’s a lifeline for children navigating the challenges of long-term hospitalization. Research shows that just 30 minutes of daily play therapy can stabilize anxiety levels, fostering emotional resilience and signaling progress in recovery. The ability to play, even in difficult circumstances, is a profound marker of health and hope.
DIRECTION
For children confined to hospital beds, discovery should not be limited by circumstance. Play, a universal language of exploration, must transcend the boundaries of mobility. Current solutions for stationary play often fall short. Single-use activities lack depth, unsanitary toys pose health risks, and overly simplistic options fail to inspire. The opportunity lies in crafting a singular, enduring tool that sparks curiosity, fosters creativity, and evolves with the child’s development—a companion for discovery, even in the stillness of a hospital room.
IDEATION
Good design starts with empathy. We grounded our ideation in a philosophy that values usefulness, simplicity, and the timeless principles of design. Drawing from historical influences, we honed in on a singular purpose: to craft an experience that transforms hospital stays into moments of curiosity and growth. This ethos inspired the Curio Tray. Rooted in the idea of "curio"—an object of intrigue—it is a tool for children to create, learn, and discover without limits, no matter their physical circumstances.
PHILOSOPHY
"Good Design Scratches and Itch."
Inspired by Dieter Rams’s principles of usefulness and innovation, we approach design from a child’s perspective, meeting their needs with tools that empower creativity and self-expression. Charles Eames quote on the primary conditions for good design is that it is able to recognize the need also helped us forumalte our philosophy and inform our decisions. By equipping children with opportunities to invent and explore, we amplify their ability to find joy and purpose, even in the most constrained environments.
AUDIENCE
The Curio Tray is designed for children enduring long-term hospital stays, offering a gateway to creativity, learning, and emotional well-being. Our mission is to transform sterile environments into spaces of possibility, where children can develop new skills, build confidence, and forge connections. We believe every child deserves the opportunity to explore and grow, even while facing life’s toughest challenges.
THE TRAY
The Curio Tray was thoughtfully designed with the end user in mind at every stage of development. Measuring 14 inches wide by 10 inches long, it is perfectly sized for medical over-bed trays. Every component of the tray is precision-crafted: the parts are laser-cut for exact measurements and clean edges, ensuring a high-quality build. The tray was constructed entirely from wood, with no screws, brackets, or industrial materials used. Instead, box joints and clear adhesives provided a strong, durable structure.
THE TRAY
Once assembled, all edges were carefully rounded to create a smooth, child-friendly surface, making it safe for even young users. The tray’s surfaces were then sanded to remove any splinters and to create a soft, polished feel. A natural stain was then applied to enhance the wood's beauty, followed by a protective layer of polyurethane. This finish not only adds durability but also makes the tray easy to sanitize and wipe clean.
THE TRAY
The tray features a dual-purpose activity piece: one side offers an educational activity, while the other invites more creative play. The activity piece was designed to fit within the tray's frame, with quarter-circle cutouts in opposite corners for easy access to flip it over. Beneath the activity piece, a divider separates two sections—one for storing puzzle pieces and the other for memory game pieces. The underneath for these trays will differ depending on the activites they offer.
FINAL PRODUCT
