Qwesty

Redefining children's play through imagination.

ROLE

Co-Founder

Product Designer

TIMELINE

Jan 2025 - Present

TEAM

2 Co-Founders

TOOLS

Figma

Blender

Shapr3D

01. SOLUTION PREVIEW

Redefining play

Qwesty is a tech toy for 5-8 year olds focusing on imaginative play through interactive stories and quests.

02. PROBLEM

Current technology is not designed for children

Because of widespread technology, parents find it harder to manage healthy screen time for their kids. Children are online for longer hours, resulting in higher exposure to inappropriate content and a decreased attention span.

According to Common Sense Media…

Source: Common Sense Media, “Media Use by Kids Zero to Eight”

03. RESEARCH

Talking to our target audience

We interviewed 16 parents and teachers regarding their concerns about children's relationship with technology.

Mrs. Cen, mother of 7 year old

“I do try to set some limits but I feel that two children playing games together is a perfectly normal and happy experience. The key is just to manage the time and balance other activities.”

Mrs. Keats, elementary teacher of 15 years

“In 2012, we would play and get messy. In 2017, there’s almost a phobia of getting messy because children are now used to scrolling on screens – they miss out on sensory play.”

We found that…

Kids' first resort is their device when it comes to play.

Children today are lacking sensory and imaginative play.

It’s tiring for parents to limit their kids' screen time.

So, how might we help parents promote healthy screen time with their children through meaningful play?

04. IDEATION AND DESIGN

Brainstorm, brainstorm, brainstorm

We began by exploring ideas of what a toy with a camera would look like, then narrowed down to a magnifying glass form factor.

First shot at our idea

We envisioned an AR toy where children take photos to complete quests. I 3D modeled and textured a prototype in Blender.

Back to the drawing board (or should I say Figma board)

After realizing that our initial ideas were too broad, we shifted our focus to helping children build imagination through interactive stories. Parents can be assured that the content is high quality and educational.

Our current idea

I modeled and textured our updated prototype in Shapr3D.

LED matrix display

Screen-free, but just as engaging.

Ergonomic handle

Silicone backing that’s easy to hold.

Intuitive buttons

Left and right for selection, circle for completion.

Charging base

Also serves as a stand for hands-free story display.

05. SOLUTION

Parents assign "Qwests"

Using a parent app, parents select the tasks they want for their kids.

Qwesty turns tasks into stories

With AI, Qwesty transforms tasks into interactive stories where the child becomes the main character.

Completing Qwests

Kids complete the Qwests, and parents approve each finished Qwest.

06. MORE FEATURES

Story packs drive engagement

Qwests build on top of each other to tell stories. Each themed story pack introduces new plots, settings, and characters to keep Qwesting exciting. Our business model is based on selling these story packs.

SideQwest mode

After completing all Qwests, kids can explore side stories that relate to the main story. These are self-guided personality-building activities – no parent supervision required!

Computer vision elevates the experience

Qwesty prompts kids to do hand motions that relate to the story for added immersiveness, which is recognized by computer vision to advance the plot.

07. VISUAL DESIGN

Creating a fun, vibrant brand

We implemented bright blue and orange hues along with bubbly letters to showcase our emphasis on creating something fun for children.

08. BUSINESS

How do we compare to existing solutions?

We analyzed competitors in the children’s tech toy space. Parents prioritize educational value, while kids care most about having fun. Our goal is to balance both through active learning and long-term engagement.