E | Creative Portfolio

14 Weeks | Fall 2025 | Peoduct Design | Individual Project

An interactive emotional discovery toy for ASD children that helps them express and understand their feelings through playful interaction and sensory experiences.

Purpose

Inspired by the observation that many children struggle to identify and communicate their feelings, EmoPlanet transforms emotional education into a playful and interactive experience.

What is ASD?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how individuals communicate, interact socially, and process information. Children with ASD may experience challenges in recognizing, expressing, and understanding emotions, making emotional learning and communication especially important.

How might we help them?

Difficulty Recognizing Emotions

Many autistic children struggle to identify and understand their own emotions, making it difficult to communicate how they feel.

Challenges Expressing Feelings

When overwhelmed, children may have difficulty using words to express emotions, leading to frustration and emotional outbursts.

Limited Emotional Regulation Skills

Children often need additional support to calm themselves, regulate emotions, and navigate social interactions.

Benefits of Communication for ASD Children

Enhances social skills
Improves emotional expression (children with cerebral palsy may find alternative ways to express during play)
Promotes cognitive and language development
Helps children feel a sense of belonging and acceptance

Competitive Gap

Chewigem Sensory

Emotion/Behavior Flash Card for Autism

Speech Generating Devices, SGD

While most existing products for autistic children are designed as single-sensory, static emotion charts, or simple instant-reward tools

Interview with SME — Autism Rehabilitation Expert

Interview Highlights

Interviewee Background — Why this SME was chosen

I interviewed a teacher who has worked in an autism rehabilitation center for over seven years and also runs her own institution, providing one-on-one emotional and behavioral guidance for autistic children. Her deep expertise and practical experience make her highly qualified to give professional feedback on my design, and she even offered to test my prototypes with the children in her center.

Design Parameters

The toy must use non-toxic, soft, and durable materials to ensure safety for children who may have sensory sensitivities.

Safety & Comfort

The design should clearly represent emotions and actions through visuals, lights, or sounds to help nonverbal children express themselves easily.

Ease of Communication

The toy should encourage interaction between children, parents, and teachers through play-based activities that build communication and emotional connection.

Interactive Engagement

The product should be easy to operate and adjustable for different ages or ability levels, supporting both home and school environments.

Adaptability & Usability

Pain Point

IKEA — From Store to System Core Concept

Mood Board

Concept

I was inspired by children’s imagination of nature and the universe, transforming familiar elements like planets, volcanoes, animals, and spaceships into playful concepts for emotional learning.