This makes me feel Empowered Inspired Productive at an Individual but Shared scale
Modular Magnetic Child Synthesizers
Designed by Terrene Huang, these synthesizers help children between the ages of nine and 13 to get started with music production.
The system allows people to add various modules to create different instruments and beats, while a screen module will guide the person along during the process. In a sense, it is a condensed version of what you would see in a production studio. The product includes almost everything that apps like Garageband you would need to start producing music like guitar, pianos, drums, EQ, delay modules, reverb, filters, and so forth. It also contains 16 beats in which the users can create loops. The module also offers suggestions for the user to add various instrumental modules to guide them and enhance their producing abilities. Overall, Chorus also helps cater to sensory learners with its vibrant colors of the buttons to help distinguish which instrument or beat. “Chorus” is also easily detachable, customizable, and stackable for the user’s preference. Children can acquire skills through the different interactive features, and the mini-lessons help keeps their learning progression on track.
Contributor notes
What is surprising, refreshing, most interesting?
What is surprising about this experience is the simplicity and playfulness of the product. At first, it appears to be those xylophone toys you would give to your 2-year-old to play with, but it has a sophistication level. The product states that it's for 9 to 13-year-olds, but I think it can also appeal to adults who are interested in producing music. When you take the parts apart, it has a visual system connected by the different instrumental and beat features' colors and shapes. There is also this contrast between the playful appearance of the product with the educational purpose that I find interesting.
Key Insights? What can we learn from this?
We learn that an experience can be condensed and simplified so that all users from different age groups can participate collectively. The choice of color to indicate different beats and features gives the product an interesting interpretation and simplification from what a regular producing board. Both have parts separated by colors; however, this product simplifies it and makes it easily accessible. We also learn that an experience does not need to be overly complicated and specific, but instead has a particular purpose. The product also taps into adults' creative minds if music apps like Garageband are too cumbersome or saturated.