Our client, Collaborative for Children, had set out on an ambitious mission: to provide a fun, hands-on learning resource for kids entering kindergarten in underserved communities - and to bring the learning to them in their own neighborhoods via a completely refurbished RV! Our task was to turn a used RV into an unforgettable experience for kids and their parents!
Our client’s goal was to make a difference in communities where kindergarten readiness falls below benchmarks. The learning RV needed to appeal to both the kids we aimed to serve as well as their parents. I employed a user mapping framework in a workshop with the client to better understand our two important audience groups. The workshop really united the client around our users and set us up for success as we would propose solutions based on our audience’s needs and wants.
I researched other learning experiences such as museums, play areas, and online learning software. Combining this research with the user empathy map information we gathered from the workshop, I created a moodboard that would appeal to both kids and parents alike, and create the outcomes we were aiming for: A playful, engaging space that put audiences in the right mindset to learn.
I worked with both a fabrication expert and our technical lead to explore the possibilities of the space within the challenging constraints of the RV itself. We pushed the boundaries of what would be possible to create in a confined mobile space like this, adding interactivity via coordinated lighting, sound, and embedded touch screen devices.
After the initial theme and overall experience was established, it was time to start designing the learner’s path through the RV. I created user flow diagrams to make sure everyone was on the same page about how the learners would interact with the space from start to finish. Considerations such as time from start to finish, safety, accessibility, and teachers needs were addressed in this stage.