Tippi-Tot
Tippi-Tot is an occupational therapy play structure designed to supplement the existing kit promoting dexterity and visual coordination for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. My understanding of the condition is a developmental disability that can be characterized by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors. My challenge was to create a different type of learning tool, something open but logical, and something that can motivate a different type of play. Through observation, I was led to believe that activities such as working with their hands can activate their fine motor skills. On top of that, their ability to mimic and follow instructions can also help improve social skills. After a series of findings, I arrived at the decision of making an animated play device which would easily attract kid’s attention. Broken down by three primary objectives, fine-motor development, social emotional development, and intellectual development, the game proceeds in different stages with different selection of samples. Through interactions with the designated challenges, children receive growth from mind and body coordination(dexterity), empathy and trust, and eventually concentration and organizational skills.

Emily Hsu 徐佳蔚


Emily Hsu is a textile and product designer based in New York City. She was first exposed to product design through furniture making. In addition to practicing construction techniques, Emily also delves into joinery detail, materials, and color sensibility. She discovered a passion in designing products that integrated social awareness/develop in its design philosophy. Emily received her BFA degree in Product Design from Parsons School of Design. The majority of her work plays with juvenile challenges, household accessories, and furniture.