Enterprise Report

During my final year, I undertook a module called ‘Design Enterprise’ and was given the opportunity to use my final year dissertation to plan an entrepreneurial project. Inspired by the recent Climate Strikes and my little brother and sister’s lack of eco-friendly toys, I wanted to investigate how I could establish a collection of illustrated wooden toys that would encourage children to build a connection to nature.

The document is available to read and download as a pdf here.

Emotional Connection

The toy industry’s part in the climate crisis was investigated, as well as the problems surrounding how people currently interact with and buy toys. I found that to encourage children to use and keep their toys for a longer period of time, they should build an emotional connection.

This can be established by making the toy;

• More reflective, allowing the user to create memories or customise the product to suit their personality

• Easier to use and open-ended

• Have a desirable design quality created through handmade production or exclusive qualities

Nature Connection

Time was spent investigating the benefits of children being more connected to nature and how to establish this fascination for nature through toys and illustration.

Nature connection is found to:

• Make children healthier and happier

• Provide opportunity for open-ended play

• Encourage children to care more about the planet and animals in it

Nature connection can be established in toys and illustration by:

• Anthropomorphising nature by making experiences of other creatures more human and relatable

• Seeing things from different perspectives such as imagining life from an ant’s perspective

• Interacting with nature by exploring outside