Plable by Yumiko Tanaka

From an interactive design perspective, toys for adults and children fascinate me. From looking at interaction models, encouraging collaboration, creativity and exploration, I think these fields can learn a lot from each other. So you’ll start to see a little more focus on toy design on Pixelsumo, toys that take a different approach or meaning.

Plable

Plable, by Royal College of Art student Yumiko Tanaka is one of the nicest things I’ve seen today. Plable aims to get children and adults playing together. Perhaps the parent is busy making dinner and can’t play with the child at the same time, for example. Plable is a table that the child can hide under, creating a link between the fantasy world they create and the activities of the adult on the surface of the table.

With this table, children can build their own imaginary world on the underside of the table, which is their secret special place, with opposite gravity. Adults can use the surface of the table as usual.

The movement, such as moving tea cups, that happens on the tabletop will be a trigger of the happenings on the underside. They can show children some exciting tricks and do their own things at the same time.

The connection of the surfaces gets children and parents together.
It also might help children and adults to play together more often through their normal activities in the everyday environment.

Currently a concept, but being developed as a student project in time for the summer show. Great stuff. Watch the video.

Posted on March 1st 2006 under Royal College of Art, Toys