Thinker-Tinker

Client

Concept
Published Concept
As a founding member of Thinker-Tinker, a company dedicated to transforming screen time into active, meaningful play for children aged 0-7, I played a key role in launching innovative IoT products. One of our flagship creations was Octobo, the world’s first interactive soft robot designed to help children learn through fun, engaging play. By linking a smart device to the plush character, equipped with RFID and touch sensors, Octobo creates a seamless blend of physical and digital experiences. This transforms any space into a learning environment, fostering early literacy, coordinated movement, and foundational STEM skills through interactive play.
Platform
Effect House | TikTok
Meta Spark | Instagram
8th Wall | WebAR
Lens Studio | Snap
iOS
Android
Web
Timeline
Created
February 2019 – September 2022
My responsibilities extended across product management, creative direction, website design, and collaboration with remote teams to bring our vision to life. I worked closely with the team to optimize Octobo Story, our primary app available on both iOS and Android, refining the design and user experience to ensure seamless interaction between the physical plush, physical accessories, and digital content. I spearheaded user studies to gather insights on how children and parents engaged with Octobo, which helped inform iterative improvements in both functionality and interface design. Beyond managing product development, I also handled customer support, addressing inquiries and ensuring a positive experience for users. To further extend the Octobo platform, I designed two additional mobile apps: Octobo Reads Audiobook, which introduces audio storytelling into the experience with additional, interactive physical books; and Octobo Fun & Games, a companion app that offers more interactive activities for users. Throughout the development phase of these apps, I worked closely with remote lead developers, providing oversight to ensure the technical execution aligned with the creative vision. My ability to bridge design and development allowed me to deliver cohesive, user-centered experiences that continued to enhance Octobo’s value as an educational and entertaining tool for children.
Tools +
Services
πŸ”˜ Photoshop
πŸ”˜ Illustrator
πŸ”˜ Adobe XD
πŸ”˜ Premiere Pro
πŸ”˜ Shopify
πŸ”˜ Product Management
πŸ”˜ UI/UX Design
πŸ”˜ Art Direction
πŸ”˜ Content Management
πŸ”˜ Messaging/Copywriting
πŸ”˜ Development Oversight

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Tools
πŸ”˜ Photoshop
πŸ”˜ Illustrator
πŸ”˜ Adobe XD
πŸ”˜ Premiere Pro
πŸ”˜ Shopify
Tools
πŸ”˜ Photoshop
πŸ”˜ Illustrator
πŸ”˜ Adobe XD
πŸ”˜ Premiere Pro
πŸ”˜ Shopify
πŸ… 2021 Webby Award nominee
πŸ… 2020 SXSW Innovation Awards finalist
πŸ… 2020 Collision Conf Alpha Program participant
πŸ… 2020 TechCrunch Top Pick
πŸ… 2020 CES Last Gadget Standing, Top 10 Finalist
Thinker-Tinker's product offerings grew with Trolls Music Stars. Developed in collaboration with Dreamworks and Universal Brand Development, this second product line, similar to Octobo, blended physical and digital play by allowing users to purchase physical plush toys with interactive markers. Scanning these markers would unlock new sections of the in-game map, revealing additional songs and characters. The more plushes collected, the more digital content became available, encouraging deeper engagement. I played a key role in overseeing development and testing iterations, ensuring a seamless user experience. I designed the interactive markers that unlocked digital content and worked with Universal to align designs with the Trolls franchise guidelines. Additionally, I created the branding and style for Trolls Music Stars and app assets, integrating creative and technical aspects into a cohesive product that brought the vibrant world of Trolls to life in a musically interactive, phy-gital way.