Visited the Children's Museum of Atlanta to conduct co-design sessions and actual project testing. This visit was a great opportunity to engage directly with the children who visit the museum, allowing for hands-on feedback and collaborative iteration on the design in a real-world setting.
We believed this project was a perfect fit because it transforms the invisible systems of Atlanta’s urban infrastructure into a tangible, "phygital" toy that resonates with a child's daily reality. By using the iconic MARTA branding, the board bridges the gap between the massive transit system kids see through car windows and a miniature world they can finally control and master. This alignment of local identity with hands-on circuitry empowers young visitors to view themselves as active contributors to Georgia's technological and civic future.
Design developemnt of our blocks
Our design process followed an iterative path fueled by direct observation of how children interacted with the physical blocks. The initial prototypes focused on a simple directional route, but we quickly realized the layout lacked visual clarity, prompting us to add colors and printed arrows to guide the path. Despite these additions, our sessions at the museum showed that kids still struggled with the orientation, leading us to integrate the arrow directly into the block’s physical form to make the direction completely intuitive.
Once we integrated the intuitive arrow design, the remaining components of the transit system became clear, leading us to develop specialized blocks representing the Five Points hub and various terminal endpoints. By carefully recording children’s traits and behaviors during play, we were able to pivot from abstract symbols to a tactile design that speaks the natural language of a child's curiosity.
