Breadboard Bakery
STEAM activity kit inspired by Robot-in-a-Box, designed for middle school children
Children will learn about circuitry, electronics, and Micro:bit. Breadboard Bakery uses story as a device to create a beautiful user experience for the children; bringing them on an immersive journey that helps enhance their experience and engagement with the kit. This kit will become the beginning of their creative journey, inspiring them to further explore the possibilities on their own.
To find opportunities for improving the current Robot-in-a-Box, a product by NYC FIRST, I tested the product with a teammate.
The goals of the kit were identified to be: circuitry knowledge, problem-solving, and other skills (such as fine motor skills).
Aspects of the experience that my design will keep and build upon include a fun learning experience and a sense of accomplishment.
My design aims to improve instructions and sustaining interest.
I started by exploring fairy tales, which children may easily connect with. Practiced identifying key elements of the story, then transforming them into elements of the box design. Although I moved on to designing my own story and characters, I kept an outcome from experimenting with the fairy tale: the cinematic experience.
Bakery box design to bring children a joyful opening experience and immerse the children into the story.
A friendly and cohesive color palette for all elements of the box design.
Children are excited by characters and engage with graphics that have personalities.
ACTIVITY 1 “Preheating the Oven” • Light up a LED; control the LED with a button • When LED turns on, the oven is turned on • Learning Outcome: Circuitry, input & output, flow of electrical current, conductivity
ACTIVITY 2 “Set Up the Mixer” • Download the Micro:bit code; connect Micro:bit to a servomotor • Analogy between the turning of servomotor and mixing motion of the batter • Learning Outcome: Micro:bit, MakeCode, sensor, position feedback
ACTIVITY 3 “Assemble the Cake” • Combine the product from previous activities with craft to make a cake on rotating display • The final product and box becomes a cinematic display to be kept
← Scan to experience the app!
User testing with NYC First students
Trying to Learn:
Are the instructions easy to understand and follow & is the app easy to navigate?
Were the activities and packaging engaging; create sustaining interest?
Did the students understand what the goal of the activity was (was the learning outcome clear/achieved)?
Learning & Improvements:
More engaging graphic design to foster curiosity and interest in all parts of the box
Simpler app navigation
Clearer learning outcomes & teaching about each component before the exercise