Spark
Timeline —
Apr. 2024 - Jun. 2024
Role —
User Researcher Mobile UI Designer Smart Device Designer
Tools —
Collaborator —
Individual Project
Figma Arduino Blender Rhino Photoshop
This innovative machine features a unique 'surprise mode,' which deliberately introduces imperfections into prints. This design encourages students to accept imperfection and explore multiple possibilities, fostering an open-minded approach to learning. Additionally, the novel printing method and the machine's creative design further enhance artistic expression.
Incorporating a user-friendly app, Spark offers children a comprehensive experience that spans from initial brainstorming and digital design to the creation of tangible products. This seamless integration ensures a holistic educational journey, empowering students to turn imaginative ideas into real-world objects.
“A designed 3D printer machine and app that enhances the creativity and problem-solving skills of elementary school students.”
01. Background Research
While exploring online forums and articles, I noticed growing concern about how schools are limiting hands-on creative opportunities—reducing art and craft classes in favor of more academic-focused subjects.
It struck me personally—because I remember how much joy and confidence I gained from making things freely as a child. This observation led me to dig deeper into the issue, where I found data that echoed these concerns.
01. The Problem
Nowadays children's creativity is decreasing
63.5% of sample thought that primary school students aren’t offered a lot of opportunities to manifest creativity.
In 2017 studies by Kyung Hee Kim, data show children are becoming less emotionally energetic and imaginative.
Some children are afraid to create for fear of failure and lack of affirmation, thus denying their own creativity for a long period of time.
02. Problem Context
Where does children's creativity come from?
Exploration: Children are naturally curious
Imagination: Children's minds are hopeful
Cognitive skills: Creativity is linked to experiences
Self-awareness: Self-awareness through creation
Motivated by this troubling trend, I began to explore a deeper question: What nurtures creativity in children, why does it matter so much, and how to boost creativity? Understanding the roots and significance of creativity helped frame the direction of my work.
Students ages 7-11 begin to solve problems in a logical way. Creativity can encourage students to think critically and find innovative solutions to challenges.
Students ages 8 start to create not mimic.
Builds Confidence: Allows children to express themselves freely, boosting self-esteem and resilience.
Fosters Emotional Growth: Helps students process emotions and develop empathy through imaginative play and storytelling.
Why is Creativity Important for children?
So I choose elementary school students who are going through this transition as my target users
Embrace mistakes and celebrate failures.
Emphasize process, not product.
Teach creative problem-solving techniques.
Get involved as a collaborator.
How to boost creativity?
02. Research + Synthesis
01. Competitive product
I began researching existing tools that support creativity and making among younger age groups. This competitive analysis helped me understand what’s already available, where the gaps are, and how things can be improved.
There are two main competitive products
02. Interview
To further understand how creativity is experienced and supported in real families, I conducted interviews with two households—one with a 4th grade daughter and one with a 6th grade son.
Interview Summary
What I learned reinforced the urgency of the problem: while children have the potential and desire to be creative, they often lack tools, guidance, and encouragement in their daily environments. In many schools, even art and music classes are being squeezed out by core subjects. Parents, too, are actively seeking better ways to nurture their kids’ creativity but are unsure where to start. These insights shaped my direction and confirmed that any solution must be flexible, empowering, and family-friendly.
03. Persona
To translate the insights from the interviews into an actionable design direction, I created two personas that represent the users: elementary school students and their parents.
They help ensure that the final solution balances engagement, usability, and support.
04. User Journey Map
Building on the personas, I mapped out the user's experience to identify key pain points and design opportunities throughout their creative process. It allow me to illustrate the steps, emotions, and challenges users encounter as they engage with the service.
03. Design Concept
01. Ideation
In response to the challenges revealed in the user journey—confusion, frustration, and fear of failure—I began ideating around three key principles…..
Easy
A easy using 3D printing machine
Fun & Simple
Fun and simple UI design for children
Mistakes
Make mistakes to spark creativity
How can we create an engaging 3D PRINTING experience that fosters CREATIVITY and problem-solving with mistakes in elementary school students?
02. Affinity Clustering
To translate broad ideas into actionable features, I conducted affinity clustering based on earlier insights. Grouping user needs around themes like visualization, guidance, and parent involvement helped define the core structure of the phone app and machine experience.
04. Integrated Design Solutions
To help children embrace mistakes and learn through making, I built a simplified 3D printing prototype focused on play and experimentation. This directly responds to research findings around fear of failure and lack of creative tools.
Using Arduino, I programmed coordinated servo movements based on a custom coordinate system. Two motors control horizontal positioning, while a third manages vertical lifting—enabling precise drawing behaviors and responsive control.
01. Technology + Coding
02. Machine Making Process
To translate the digital logic into physical motion, I built a working prototype using laser-cut acrylic boards, servo motors, and a mounted 3D printing pen.
03. AI Analysis
To support ideation and creative exploration within the app, I integrated AI-generated suggestions as a way to guide and inspire young users. I tested this capability using ChatGPT, prompting it to generate diverse interpretations and extensions of 3D-printed shapes.
The output demonstrated how AI can propose imaginative themes—such as alien artifacts, crystal mazes, or futuristic architecture.
04. APP Design
Low-fi Sketches
To extend creativity beyond the machine, I designed an app that addresses key pain points found in research—lack of guidance, fear of failure, and limited parent support.
Catering towards four flows
- Sketchbook & AI Explore
- Creating the design & Start Print
- Surprise Mode
- Forum & Parent help
Mid-fidelity planning
Sketchbook + AI Explore
Effortlessly capture and develop your ideas anytime, anywhere with an intuitive sketchbook. Leverage AI to refine and enhance details for a more polished outcome.
Final Solution
Design + Print
Design seamlessly on your phone, connect to your printer, and bring your ideas to life. Easily import, modify or create your own designs. Once printing starts, you can relax, multitask, or get creative as your vision takes shape.
Surprise Mode
Activate Surprise Mode to unlock creativity and embrace the unexpected. The 3D printer will modify parts of your model, opening the door to fresh designs and endless possibilities.
Forum + Parent Help
Explore the forum to upload your creations, browse thousands of inspiring posts.
If students get stuck, the help section for parents offers guidance on how to support their journey.
05. Product Design Process
Sketches: I selected keywords and objects that symbolize creativity, such as 'breakthroughs,' 'enlightenment,' and 'moments of illumination.' Using these concepts, I created several product sketches inspired by these ideas.
With the core mechanics and coding in place, I moved on to designing the outer shell of the printing machine—aiming to make it inviting and meaningful for children.
After gathering feedback from several children, I chose a light bulb as the main structure and added a playful sea otter on top—symbolizing intelligence and creativity.
I used Rhino and Blender to model this product
06. Final Product Design
The final prototype brings together the mechanical, coding, and visual design elements into a cohesive form tailored for children.
Pen detail: Two servos control the two arms that control the pen
Back view: Detail of lift servo and mechanism
Below is an exploded view illustrating the full structure of the 3D printing machine, highlighting how each component contributes to both function.
07. Physical Product
To ensure the machine would feel approachable and safe for children, I 3D printed the basic forms to evaluate scale, structure, and usability. This step allowed me to test how the product might be handled by small users and assess the visual friendliness of the design.
To ground the concept in a real-world context, I visualized how a child might interact with the product through Lily’s story.
From initial excitement to encountering unexpected outcomes like “Surprise Mode,” Lily’s journey reflects how children can grow confidence by experimenting, failing, and discovering—turning uncertainty into creativity.
08. User Scenario
05. Final Reflection
This comprehensive project allowed me to explore a wide range of design outputs, from coding and prototyping to storytelling and interface design. The project challenged me to translate abstract research insights into tangible forms that engage children’s curiosity while addressing real educational constraints.
If I had more time, I would further refine the app interface, conduct additional user testing with children and parents, and enhance the printing machine's mechanical performance to improve reliability and interactivity. This project reaffirmed the value of combining technical precision with playful, user-centered design.
01. Takeaways + Possibilities