DESIGN CHALLENGE
Libraries and bookstores pay great attention to detail in attracting and engaging a child’s curiosity. They create an environment in which children become excited to pick up a book and dive into the adventure awaiting them. However, this whimsy is lost when book distributions occur outside Reading Ready Pittsburgh’s bookstore. FBD was tasked with finding a way to bring that excitement to the children who do not have immediate access to a bookstore and encourage them to approach a book just as they would in an established setting.
There was also the added challenge of compact storage and assembly. Distribution events would often only have 1-2 people, meaning the structure would have to have an assembly process simple enough to be done by only those present. For transportation purposes, the entire structure would need to become a ‘kit of parts’ such that it was sturdy enough when put together but lightweight and small enough to transport.
DESIGN SOLUTION
To tackle this challenge, our team was inspired by the mechanics and whimsy of pop-up books. We were particularly interested in introducing an element of surprise and excitement that readers of pop-up books experience when they open to a scene jumping out of the pages. This led us to design a unit that not only displays books on opposite sides but unfolds to reveal a third display and chalkboard. When opened, the structure provides more space to display books and a canvas for the children to express and explore their own creativity.
The structure was made primarily out of two-by-four lumber, creating a frame that is both lightweight and made out of a material familiar to the club members. The frame is disassembled into 8 total pieces, connected by a series of bolts and threaded inserts for ease of assembly and maintaining strong connections. All of the pieces together fit into the back of a car for easy transportation to and from Reading Ready Pittsburgh’s events.
