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PLÂYTISSERIE YOYOS

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PLÂYTISSERIE YOYOS

Reimagined Nostalgic Toy
for Generation Z

Reimagined Nostalgic Toy for Generation Z

TIMELINE

8 Weeks

Spring 2025

TIMELINE

8 Weeks

Spring 2025

ROLE

Brand Designer

Manufacturer

ROLE

Brand Designer

Manufacturer

TEAM

1 Designer (Me!)

2 Mechanical Engineers

TEAM

1 Designer (Me!)

2 Mechanical Engineers

TOOLS

Adobe Illustrator

Rhino3D

SolidWorks

TOOLS

Adobe Illustrator

Rhino3D

SolidWorks

SKILLS

Brand Identity

3D Modeling

Mass Manufacturing

SKILLS

Brand Identity

3D Modeling

Mass Manufacturing

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OVERVIEW

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OVERVIEW

The challenge was to mass manufacture products for a Mother’s Day Market

At the end of the school year, students in Penn’s Venture Lab fabricate and sell a small-batch product line.

The market attracts a wide range of buyers, from students to visiting families, shopping for Mother’s Day and graduation gifts.

The challenge was to mass manufacture products for a Mother’s Day Market

At the end of the school year, students in Penn’s Venture Lab fabricate and sell a small-batch product line.

The market attracts a wide range of buyers, from students to visiting families, shopping for Mother’s Day and graduation gifts.

WHO WE DESIGNED FOR

Students

Mothers

Visiting Families

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OUTCOME

Collectible, Customizable, and Playful Gifts

The team produced and sold all 26 macaron-inspired yoyos.

Each one was cast, sanded, polished and assembled by hand, featuring a pastel color line, stickers for customization, and gift-ready packaging.

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OUTCOME

Collectible, Customizable, and Playful Gifts

The team produced and sold all 26 macaron-inspired yoyos.

Each one was cast, sanded, polished and assembled by hand, featuring a pastel color line, stickers for customization, and gift-ready packaging.

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FABRICATION

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FABRICATION

Steps from Model to Market

Steps from Model to Market

STEP 1

3D Modeling

  1. Mechanical engineers 3D scan real macaron and convert into .3dm file

  2. Model yoyo components in Solidworks:

    1. Macaron split into shell halves

    2. Axle

    3. Axle caps

    4. Ball bearing

3D MODEL (SOLIDWORKS)

3D MODEL (SOLIDWORKS)

3D MODEL (SOLIDWORKS)

STEP 2

Fabrication

  1. 3D resin print macaron shell halves

  1. Hot glue on sprue for resin pouring later

  1. Create molds out of 3D printed shells with Smooth-On Mold Star

  1. Mix pigment with Smooth-On Smooth-Cast resin

  1. Pour resin in molds

  1. Vacuum seal resin in mold to prevent bubbles

  1. Allow resin to cure for 24 hours

  1. Remove cured resin from mold

  1. Saw off sprue

  1. Drill central hole for component assembly

  1. Sand and polish for smooth finish

  1. Assemble components with resin shells

  1. Attach yoyo string to central axle

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BRANDING & PACKAGING

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BRANDING & PACKAGING

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BRANDING & PACKAGING

Play Meets Pâtisserie

We studied popular brands with cult following:

Play Meets Pâtisserie

We studied popular brands with cult following:

Play Meets Pâtisserie

We studied popular brands with cult following:

Packaging designed to feel like a dessert box

Packaging designed to feel like a dessert box

Packaging designed to feel like a dessert box

STEP 3

Custom Packaging

  1. Outline dieline in Rhino3D + Illustrator

  1. Lasercut cardboard

  1. Fold into box and hotglue

  1. Spraypaint interiors

  1. Wrap in sticker wrap

  1. Hot glue plastic window for product reveal window

  1. Attach fabric pull tab for opening

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SHOPPER EXPERIENCE

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SHOPPER EXPERIENCE

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SHOPPER EXPERIENCE

Pâtisserie Pop-Up Shop

We decorated our booth like a pâtisserie complete with baking trays for display, menu cards styled after macaron flavor menus, and aprons to match the theme. Each purchase felt like buying a dessert.

Pâtisserie Pop-Up Shop

We decorated our booth like a pâtisserie complete with baking trays for display, menu cards styled after macaron flavor menus, and aprons to match the theme. Each purchase felt like buying a dessert.

Pâtisserie Pop-Up Shop

We decorated our booth like a pâtisserie complete with baking trays for display, menu cards styled after macaron flavor menus, and aprons to match the theme. Each purchase felt like buying a dessert.

We sold out at the market.

THE TEAM :)

THE TEAM :)

THE TEAM :)

DISPLAY

DISPLAY

DISPLAY

STICKER CUSTOMIZATION

STICKER CUSTOMIZATION

STICKER CUSTOMIZATION

MENUS & STICKERS

MENUS & STICKERS

MENUS & STICKERS

After the event, many buyers shared clips of them using the yoyos with friends.

Despite the various challenges the team faced, the project was a success!

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CONCEPT

Why Yoyos?

We wanted to create a toy that fit the following criteria:

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CONCEPT

Why Yoyos?

We wanted to create a toy that fit the following criteria:

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CONCEPT

Why Yoyos?

We wanted to create a toy that fit the following criteria:

1

Tactile

An experience that recalled hands-on childhood play in a time dominated by digital media

2

Small

Small enough to prototype and mass produce within a couple weeks

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Marketable

Could sell well at the market and resonate with Gen Z consumer tastes

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Challenge

Technical challenge for the mechanical engineers on the team

Why Macaron Yoyos?

At this point, the team bonded over getting coffee at the nearest Paris Baguette before each meeting. Their macarons sparked inspiration and its shape and size made it the perfect analog for a yoyo.

Why Macaron Yoyos?

At this point, the team bonded over getting coffee at the nearest Paris Baguette before each meeting. Their macarons sparked inspiration and its shape and size made it the perfect analog for a yoyo.

Why Macaron Yoyos?

At this point, the team bonded over getting coffee at the nearest Paris Baguette before each meeting. Their macarons sparked inspiration and its shape and size made it the perfect analog for a yoyo.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

How might we redesign a nostalgic toy for a new generation?

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RESEARCH

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RESEARCH

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RESEARCH

Competitive Analysis of Gen Z Brands

We analyzed popular brands with Gen Z cult followings to identify patterns in packaging, branding, and product experience that could inform our own design decisions.

Competitive Analysis of Gen Z Brands

We analyzed popular brands with Gen Z cult followings to identify patterns in packaging, branding, and product experience that could inform our own design decisions.

Competitive Analysis of Gen Z Brands

We analyzed popular brands with Gen Z cult followings to identify patterns in packaging, branding, and product experience that could inform our own design decisions.

STICKER CUSTOMIZATION

With every purchase, Glossier gifts complementary stickers for consumers to playfully customize their products.

PACKAGING AS PRODUCT

Liquid Death uses rebellious beer-style packaging to transform water into a product with a personality. The brand is the packaging.

COLLECTIBILITY

Pop Mart's Labubu series drives repeat purchases by offering different colors each season to encourage collecting.

VIBRANT COLORWAYS

Starfaces's bold-colored, star-shaped acne patches turn everyday skincare into a form of self-expression.

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ITERATIONS

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ITERATIONS

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ITERATIONS

Competitive Analysis of Gen Z Brands

We analyzed popular brands with Gen Z cult followings to identify patterns in packaging, branding, and product experience that could inform our own design decisions.

Competitive Analysis of Gen Z Brands

We analyzed popular brands with Gen Z cult followings to identify patterns in packaging, branding, and product experience that could inform our own design decisions.

Competitive Analysis of Gen Z Brands

We analyzed popular brands with Gen Z cult followings to identify patterns in packaging, branding, and product experience that could inform our own design decisions.