[WORK]

Picky Eater Placemat

Client:
Picky Eater Placemat
Service:
Information Design
Tools:
Illustrator
Year:
2019

I created the Picky Eater Placemat, a sensory-based tool that helps children engage with food through exploration rather than pressure. This product is rooted in the Sequential-Oral-Sensory (SOS) approach and has been successfully launched on Etsy, receiving widespread positive feedback from parents and professionals alike. The project exemplifies my ability to transform research and personal experience into an impactful, user-friendly design solution.

View on Etsy
Btn Arrow Image

Project overview

Project Overview

A passion project designed to help children explore food using their five senses
Brief Summary:
I created the Picky Eater Placemat, a sensory-based tool that helps children engage with food through exploration rather than pressure. This product is rooted in the Sequential-Oral-Sensory (SOS) approach and has been successfully launched on Etsy, receiving widespread positive feedback from parents and professionals alike. The project exemplifies my ability to transform research and personal experience into an impactful, user-friendly design solution.

Challenges and Objectives

Challenges:
As a parent, I saw firsthand how difficult it was for my children to try new foods. Traditional methods like “just try it” weren’t working, and I realized that a new approach was needed to make mealtime more engaging and less stressful. I wanted to create a tool that would encourage food exploration in a fun, non-pressured way.

Objectives:
The goal was to design a placemat that visually guides children through sensory exploration using the SOS approach. It needed to be visually engaging, easy for children to understand, and effective in reducing the pressure often associated with trying new foods.

My Role and Responsibilities

  • Research: Conducted extensive research into the SOS approach to feeding, which focuses on engaging children with food through their five senses.
  • Conceptualization: Developed the concept for a child-friendly, visually appealing placemat that encourages curiosity about food exploration rather than immediate consumption.
  • Design: Created the placemat's visual identity, including its color palette, typography, and layout, ensuring it was functional and inviting for children.
  • Collaboration: Worked closely with pediatric specialists to refine the copy and ensure that the language on the placemat supported food exploration and discovery.
  • Prototyping and Refinement: Designed, printed, and tested multiple prototypes to ensure color accuracy, usability, and appeal before finalizing the design.

Process and Execution

Research and Development:
The inspiration for the Picky Eater Placemat came from watching my own children struggle with trying new foods. Traditional encouragement methods were ineffective, so I began researching alternative approaches. The Sequential-Oral-Sensory (SOS) method, which engages all five senses, was particularly compelling, highlighting the need for a visual tool to guide children through the sensory exploration of food.

Concept Development:
With the SOS approach as my foundation, I developed a placemat concept designed to reduce the pressure of eating and focus on sensory experiences. My goal was to create something bold, bright, and visually appealing to children, with simple and inviting language that would make mealtime feel more like an adventure.

Visual Identity and Design:
The placemat design was centered on using bright, playful colors and a clean layout that guides children through exploring food with their senses. I chose visual elements that would both appeal to kids and serve the placemat’s educational purpose, ensuring the design was both functional and engaging.

Collaboration and Refinement:
I worked closely with two pediatric specialists who provided valuable feedback on the placemat’s content. One key refinement was shifting the language from “Do you like this food?” to “What did you learn?”—a subtle but significant change that encourages exploration rather than preference. Several prototypes were created and tested to adjust color accuracy, spacing, and overall usability, ensuring the final design was polished and effective.

Implementation:
Once finalized, the Picky Eater Placemat was launched on Etsy, where it quickly gained traction. Produced with high-quality materials for durability and clarity, the placemat is positioned as both a practical tool for parents and a therapeutic aid for pediatric professionals.

No items found.

Results and Impact

Quantitative Metrics:

  • Over 6,000 views and more than 150 purchases on Etsy, demonstrating the product’s popularity and effectiveness.
  • Positive feedback from parents and pediatric professionals who have incorporated the placemat into mealtime routines and therapeutic feeding interventions.

Stakeholder Feedback:
“This is my new go-to item at home to continue the therapeutic feeding interventions between sessions. High-quality graphics, youthful, attractive design.” – Parent and Pediatric Specialist

Conclusion and Reflection

Reflection on Success:
The success of the Picky Eater Placemat project demonstrates my ability to create a product that addresses a real-world challenge while also engaging the end user. The project allowed me to apply my design skills in a meaningful way, blending research, collaboration, and creativity into a product that helps children explore food in a fun, non-pressured environment.

Skills Highlighted:

  • Research and understanding of the Sequential-Oral-Sensory (SOS) approach
  • Conceptualization and product design for children
  • Collaboration with pediatric specialists for product refinement
  • Prototyping and iterative design adjustments
  • Successful implementation and product launch on a major e-commerce platform

How It Informs Future Work:
This project reinforced my belief in the power of design to solve real-world problems, particularly in the realm of child development and education. The feedback from both parents and professionals highlighted the effectiveness of the placemat, motivating me to continue creating tools that not only look good but also make a difference in people’s lives.