Tink Tank

An interactive space for children with various abilities

Tabita Kurien
Post Graduate Student of New Media Design
National Institute of Design
India
 Tink Tank
Tink Tank offers a variety of
learning opportunities for all
children.

It is flexible, adjustable, usable

and customizable .

It is designed to provide
auditory, tactile and visual
stimulation.

It is a cause and effect

motivational center , specially-
designed for use in therapeutic
and educational environments.

Tabita Kurien Tabita.kurien@gmail.com

 Design Process
brainstorming

research

user study

concept generation
final concept
making of product
user testing

Tabita Kurien Tabita.kurien@gmail.com

 Inspiration

I have been inspired by

their present toys and
developed a new space
to make their exercises
more interactive and
fun.

Tabita Kurien Tabita.kurien@gmail.com

 User study
The user study was
conducted in SETU
an early intervention
development centre
in Ahmedabad.
Children with Autism
and Cerebral Palsy
from the age group of
1 ½ to 8 yrs come
here with their
parents.

Tabita Kurien Tabita.kurien@gmail.com

 The making
Tink Tank was made in the
workshops of National Institute
of Design.

• The Table and shapes was

made of 19mm MDF and
painted.
aking of the detachable table Making of the acrylic tank
• The Tank was made of Acrylic

• The electronics were finalized

after a lot of trial and error.

• The inner toys were bought

from the market.
The alphabets before attaching Making of the electronic Circuit

Tabita Kurien Tabita.kurien@gmail.com

 User testing

At present Tink Tank

is being used by SETU
an early intervention
Development Centre,
for the past 8 months.
The children are
enjoying this new
space.

Tabita Kurien Tabita.kurien@gmail.com

 Views

Tink Tank has been made

with 8 different activities
on the four sides. Each
helping the child in a
different way.

Tabita Kurien Tabita.kurien@gmail.com

 Spring Summer
When a child exercises his hand with the hand gripper the wind
chimes inside rotate and the light intensity increases while the
chimes make a soothing sound.

Tabita Kurien Tabita.kurien@gmail.com

 Enchanting Galaxy
The galaxy has colorful glowing stars and
planets. When a child blows through a pipe
the planets starts revolving. The light
intensity increases according to the amount
you blow and the rhyme “Twinkle twinkle”
plays along.

Tabita Kurien Tabita.kurien@gmail.com

 Junglee Jungle
The jungle is filled with wild animals. When a child uses the hand
exerciser. The light intensity increases according to the amount
you press and the music comes on simultaneously.

Tabita Kurien Tabita.kurien@gmail.com

 Blue water
The magnetic fish love to be fed by the
magnetic food which children feed. This
helps the child in fine motor
coordination. The light comes on as well
as the air pump get activated.

Tabita Kurien Tabita.kurien@gmail.com

 Number Grid
There are plastic numbers and functions (addition, subtraction,
division multiplication and equal to symbols) on the grid ,which
can slide through the grid. These numbers can be arranged in any
manner. It can be used as a learning aid for different age groups.
From teaching basic numbers to equations.

Tabita Kurien Tabita.kurien@gmail.com

 Alphabet grid
There are plastic letters on the grid ,which can slide through the
grid. These letters can be arranged in any manner. It can be used
as a learning aid for different age groups. From teaching the
alphabet to words.

Tabita Kurien Tabita.kurien@gmail.com

 Colour and Shapes
The board has holes into which shapes of different colours and
expression can be plugged. Children can play with individual shapes.
and plug it back in the hole. Helps children recognize and
differentiate shapes, colours and expressions.

Tabita Kurien Tabita.kurien@gmail.com

 Problems tackled
• Attention grasping
• Eye-hand coordination
• Turn taking
• Social relationships
• Social interactions
• Physical activity
• Fine and gross motor coordination
• Bio feedback
• Spatial concepts

Tabita Kurien Tabita.kurien@gmail.com

 Costing
Tink Tank was funded by
National Institute of Design and
SETU.
The cost is approximately.

INR 12000
USD 260
EUR 205
DKK 1,525

The cost will reduce if mass

produced.

Tabita Kurien Tabita.kurien@gmail.com

 Future Usage Possibilities
Tink Tank with slight variations can be used in a wide variety of
establishments such as

• Schools
• Hospitals
• Nurseries
• Resource centres
• Leisure centres
• Shopping Malls play spaces
• Residential houses for elderly people
• Community resource centres
• Psychiatric hospitals and centres
• Private houses
• In a bigger scale it can also be used in exhibitions and amusement parks

Tabita Kurien Tabita.kurien@gmail.com

 Thank You

Tabita Kurien Tabita.kurien@gmail.com