Immersive Learning Project - Sensory Furniture for Children's TherAplay

In Studio 5, I had to opportunity to design and build therapy equipment/furniture for Children's TherAplay, a hippotherapy center for children. My partner, Emily Schripsema, and I chose to build a cruising wall that also includes various sensory elements. Before beginning the designs, research was conducted to learn how different design elements, such as color and pattern, affect children with autism or other conditions.

Cruising is an important motor skill that leads to independent standing and walking. It involves holding onto a safe and stable piece of furniture which facilitates core, hip and leg muscles. As children hold onto the cruising bar, they can put together the horse puzzle, squish into the gel lake to find hidden fish, pull out the colorful acrylic pegs, and look up at themselves in the cloud mirrors. The wall was themed from TherAplay's hippotherapy techniques to complement nicely with their space.

Throughout the process, the studio class was featured in many news articles and showcased in many ways by Ball State. Included below is a video about this Immersive Learning project.

This project has also been featured in many articles, linked below.

Ball State Daily News

https://www.ballstatedaily.com/article/2020/01/news-ball-state-interior-design-students-help-design-equipment-for-pediatric-clinic

Ball State Immersive Learning Webpage

https://www.bsu.edu/news/press-center/archives/2019/12/ball-state-students-create-sensory-play-wall-to-help-children-with-disabilities

WJTS News

http://wjts.tv/2019/12/jasper-resident-creating-sensory-play-wall-for-children-with-disabilities/

Overall, this project was very different than the traditional studio project at Ball State, but it felt so great to use my design skills to build a much-needed piece for a great organization.