Moto
10 weeks | Toy Design, Systems
Solo
Embrace your root words
Moto is a language learning toy for immigrant children to help them retain their native language. Help the explorer parrot and monkey catch the light in time by saying the correct word!
Helping immigrant children retain their native language
Passive bilingualism is very common amongst immigrant children in America.
AKA when you can understand a language but cannot speak it
This happens due to early exposure to English in school, leading to English becoming the dominant language.
It’s difficult for parents to actively teach their kids their mother tongue.
Even when kids are constantly exposed to their native language at home, if they don’t have meaningful active engangement with the language, they may end up passively bilingual.
How might we develop a language learning toy to help immigrant children ages 3 – 5 retain their native language at home?
What’s needed
Interviewing parents & analyzing kids’ language learning apps
MARKET ANALYSISOpportunity for high tech, active-play toy
Most existing toys teach kids passively through listening to stories or reading flashcards and not in a fun engaging way
MOODBOARDSoft, muted, inviting
TOP CONCEPTCatch the light game was the most fun and could teach various vocabulary words
PROTOTYPINGConnecting the lights to the vocab with themed mats & adding physical feedback to the character
REFINING & BUILDINGDeveloping the explorer character forms & building high fidelity functional prototypes
Meet Moto
Play that doubles as practice
Moto motivates kids to actively use their native language and builds confidence and vocabulary through repetition.
Learn everyday vocab
Teaches conversational vocabulary and numbers, including culturally specific items like food in this vocab pack.
An illustrated mat links the lights to the words kids are saying.
Race against parents!
Since engaging with family is the best way for kids to learn a language, Moto includes a two-player mode.
Track your child’s progress & reinforce vocabulary
View trouble words, access and load vocab packs, and get daily targeted stories to read together for reinforcement
Tailor the learning to your child’s needs
Choose the blend of family and community language Moto will use based on your child’s abilities. DIY your own vocabulary pack & mat to practice!
