Jun. 2024 - Nov. 2024
The modular puppet theater is an unstructured and interactive design created for children at the
Cook County Department of Corrections’ visitor center. Due to the sensitive nature of the
environment, the theater could not include any metal parts and needed to be easily portable to
accommodate various locations within the center. The design also had to be sturdy and safe for
children, ensuring durability and reliability during use.
Read more about the project
here.
Research
Week 1-3
We visited the Cook County Department of Corrections to understand the space and its constraints. We
also visited the Chicago Public Library’s children’s section, which had a puppet theater, to observe
its design and functionality.
Sketches
Week 4
We generated over 100 sketches and created mockups, narrowing our ideas down to a
single design. During this stage, we decided to make the puppet theater modular and incorporate toy
elements on each side to appeal to children who might not engage with puppets.
CAD & Mockups
Week 5-6
I created CAD drawings for individual parts, adhering to design-for-machining principles to
streamline assembly. I also made physical prototypes for attractions that was going to be on the
modules as a proof of concept.
Manufacturing
Week 7-10
The final month was dedicated to manufacturing. As the only team member experienced with a
CNC router and woodworking, I was responsible for cutting the plywood. I also led the module
assembly process, from teaching my teammates woodworking basics to developing an effective method to
clamp the cut plywood pieces securely while gluing.
Oct. 2024 Showcase
Puppet Space in CCDOC
