Safari themed Kids Build Set

Safari Kids Build Set – Modular Animal Puzzle Toy

Main Service: Product Design, Toy Design, Creative Prototyping

Project Intro: A playful, modular build set designed to spark creativity in children through mix-and-match animal puzzles and geometric configurations—promoting open-ended play, problem-solving, and imaginative storytelling

Design Services: Ideation & Concept Development, Toy Design & Visual Prototyping, Modular System Design, 2D/3D Puzzle Engineering, Illustrator & CAD Mockups, Iterative Prototyping

The Brief: Design a modular puzzle toy set that encourages creativity, hands-on interaction, and educational engagement for children aged 4–10. The concept needed to be vibrant, safe, and offer open-ended possibilities for play—blending geometric puzzles with storytelling through animal characters.

Design Exploration:

I began by exploring different puzzle formats and tactile engagement strategies—ranging from traditional Tangram-based puzzles to innovative 3D modular animal figures. The process focused on how children could interact with shapes, patterns, and characters in both structured and imaginative ways.

Design Concepts & Iterations: 

1. Tangram Puzzle A classic format with seven pieces—triangles, a square, and a parallelogram—offering infinite configurations. I used a vibrant colour palette (Light Blue, Dark Blue, Purple, Pink, Green, Red, Yellow) to enhance visual appeal.

2. Slot + Connect Puzzle Pieces include geometric and organic shapes that slot into one another, allowing for bridges, towers, and abstract builds—introducing an early understanding of balance and structure.

3. Triangular & Hexagonal Puzzles These designs encourage kids to recognise symmetry and patterns while understanding that multiple solutions can exist for a single challenge—promoting open-ended problem-solving.

4. Hexagonal Puzzle Calendar An experimental evolution of the hexagonal format, this design allowed children to configure the correct day, date, and month—combining play with real-world learning.

5. Stacking Puzzle This layered puzzle used both square and hexagonal platforms, letting children stack and build vertically. Each layer had multiple solution options, enhancing spatial reasoning.

Ocean & Safari Animal Series

1) 2D Ocean Animals: Children could build or remix creatures—e.g., a Turtle Head + Fish Body, or Dolphin Head + Turtle Shell—combining learning with fantasy.

2) 3D Ocean Animals:  These physical forms gave depth and tactility to the mix-and-match concept, allowing children to create hybrid sea creatures like a Shark Head + Dolphin Body or Dolphin Head + Turtle Feet.

3) 2D Safari Animals:  Modular pieces of land animals (Elephant, Lion, Giraffe, Rhino) were designed to fit together, enabling endless imaginative combinations.

3D Safari Animals – >Final Concept:  Originally intended to include Elephant, Giraffe, Rhino, and Lion, the final 3D set was refined to focus on Lion and Leopard due to scale and material constraints. An earlier version had to be revised after I discovered the slot size was incorrectly scaled (gap was not 3mm wide), causing fitment issues. The error led to a complete redesign in Illustrator, ensuring proper assembly and avoiding structural breakage.

Outcome

The final build set supports multiple types of play—logical (puzzles), imaginative (animal hybrids), and tactile (3D stacking). It balances structure with creativity, offering a platform that children can engage with at their own pace, based on curiosity and exploration.

Website: dillonb.design

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