Project direction
Kids on the move
Degree Project
2025
Kids on the Move is a design project born from concern, curiosity, and a deep belief in the power of play.In today’s digital world, children spend more time in front of screens than ever, missing out on the movement, creativity, and connection that shape a healthy childhood. With screen time rising and motor skill development in decline, we’re watching a generation grow up without the messy, joyful, physical experiences that once defined being a kid.This project reimagines outdoor play through a modular, rideable vehicle that brings digital engagement strategies like reward, customization, and progression into the real world. Children build, adapt, and play with something tangible. It’s fun, but also developmental.More than a toy, it’s a call to reconnect with what matters: play, freedom, movement, and joy. Because fun is a serious business.
Project info
Kids on the Move explores how digitalisation is reshaping how children play, and what’s lost when screen-based entertainment replaces physical, real-world activities. As screen time increases, motor skill development, creativity, and spontaneous outdoor activity are rapidly declining. This project responds to that shift, asking: What if we could translate the captivating qualities of digital entertainment into something physical, social, and active?
To answer that, I used the soapbox car, a classic symbol of DIY fun and independence, as a design medium. Chosen not only for its playful potential but also for its nostalgic value, the soapbox car is something many adults relate to from their own childhood, creating a cross-generational link between parent and child.
The project was developed in collaboration with Thule, a brand committed to enabling active lifestyles. Their interest in children’s physical activity aligned perfectly with the project’s vision to inspire movement and imaginative outdoor play.
Process
The research phase involved investigating screen dependency, motor skill decline, and intrinsic play motivators. I studied how digital platforms keep children engaged, and how these elements could be physicalised into a hands-on play experience.Workshops with children, parents, and designers helped shape a modular, buildable vehicle concept that encourages independence and creative freedom. The soapbox format was reimagined with customizable parts and tactile engagement such as clicks, twists, and physical feedback designed to offer the same satisfaction as a digital reward. With a focus on accessibility, I tested assembly methods and feedback cues that allowed children to build and modify the car themselves. Aesthetics merged natural materials like bent wood with vibrant, toy-like plastic details to make the design both inviting and durable.
Result
The final outcome is a modular ride-on vehicle that mirrors the adaptability and engagement of digital experiences, but offline. It promotes motor skill development, problem-solving, and self-directed play while encouraging social interaction through shared activities and open-ended storytelling.
Children can assemble it together, extend its lifespan through repairs or upgrades, and take part in local events where attachments and parts are traded like collectables.
More than a product, Kids on the Move is a statement: that play can be powerful, physical, and social, even in a digital age.
Because fun is a serious business.
In collaboration with:
The clicking sound confirms the user in correct assembly, giving a sense of achievement.
Easy assembly allowing for an adaptable design that grows with the child.
Endless possibilities where the only limit is the imagination.
It can be whatever you want it to be.
User-testing
Creating a community of young makers.
Also in adulthood :).
