Hair Salon: A Sustainable Toy for Creative Play

Unleashing Children's Creativity through Animal Hair Design

It is crucial to cultivate children's hands-on skills, and Hair Salon provides the perfect platform for them to unleash their imagination. By dressing the sheep toy into an ewe, ram, or punk sheep, children can freely create their own style for the toy. This interactive toy is not only suitable for individual play but also encourages social interaction with friends and parents, creating endless fun through the creation of funny hair.

The material used for Hair Salon is plastic, and the toy is made through injection molding. Each animal figure measures 10cm x 8cm x 5cm, making it the perfect size for little hands to manipulate. The dough used in the toy is reusable, eliminating the need for electricity and promoting sustainability.

Since its launch, Hair Salon has received positive feedback from parents and children alike. One parent shared, "My son usually gets bored after playing with toys a few times. But this dough salon toy, he can play again and again, especially during epidemics." The dough is placed inside the animal toy, and by squeezing it, the dough hair is extruded. When the dough dries out, a little water can be added to restore its original elasticity, ensuring long-lasting playtime.

The Hair Salon project took place from January 2019 to January 2021, with collaboration between PolyU Design, Ningbo MiroKids Toys Co., Ltd, and designers Yi-Teng Shih, Vincent Mao, Jay Li, and Gana Xu. Extensive research was conducted to understand children's preferences and the challenges they face when playing with dough. The team aimed to create a toy that integrates art, games, and imagination, fostering aesthetic education and promoting children's craft skills.

Hair Salon was recognized for its innovative design and received the Bronze A' Design Award in the Toys, Games, and Hobby Products category in 2021. This prestigious award honors designs that demonstrate creativity, resourcefulness, and a commitment to improving the quality of life. Hair Salon exemplifies these qualities by providing children with a unique and engaging toy that stimulates their creativity and enhances their cognitive abilities.