Wooden product design for sensual development of early school age children

In this thesis study, a perception-oriented furniture design was developed to support the sensory development processes of children in early school age (between the ages of 6 and 12), by integrating pedagogical, psychological, and design-focused principles. Sensory development constitutes the foundation of cognitive, social, and emotional skills in children of this age group. In particular, their responses to multisensory stimuli during play and learning processes directly influence their developmental progress. In this context, a five-stage process based on the Design Thinking methodology was adopted with a user-centered approach: empathizing, defining the problem, ideating, prototyping, and evaluating. During the data collection process, surveys and semi-structured interviews were conducted with children, as well as with teachers who work with this age group. The collected data enabled a multifaceted analysis of children's sensory preferences, their reactions to environmental stimuli, and their interaction habits with the product. The developed product consists of an octagonal table and stools, both integrated with the cajon musical instrument feature. Wood was chosen as the main material in the design. Instead of cork cushions previously considered for the stool seats, tactile surfaces were preferred. In addition, small lavender sachets were placed under the seats to emit a lavender scent over time during use, creating a multisensory interaction environment. The stools, equipped with wheels on their bottom surfaces, can be fitted under the table like a puzzle, and the matching graphics on their surfaces aim to support children's visual matching and attention development skills. In the evaluation phase of the design, its compliance with functional, aesthetic, pedagogical, and ergonomic criteria was analyzed through observations and research. Elements such as safety, user comfort, and material durability were also taken into account. The designed furniture is intended to enhance children's active participation, social interaction, and level of sensory stimulation, and is considered to have the potential to be used in classrooms, play areas, and educational support programs. Ultimately, this study aims to contribute to the literature and offer a methodological example for future research by presenting an innovative prototype shaped through user-centered design principles based on sensory needs.