Wildkin Plush Nap Mats
Project was intended to address customer feedback regarding the tough texture of Wildkin’s cotton mats while also improving carry-ability of the mats.
Ideation
Initially, I hoped to leverage the organic cotton capability of one of Wildkin’s suppliers, but after evaluating consumer research, I realized introducing another cotton map would not address the complaints around fabric texture.
Prototyping and testing
We rapidly prototyped the Wild Bunch nap mats with digital printing (rather than time-consuming screen printing). However, it became clear that Wild Bunch backpacks were performing poorly - influencing our decision to introduce patterned mats instead of character-based mats.
Comparing our product to competitors, our current mat design did not allow for easy transport. To this end, I engineered the mats to “roll into themselves” like a sock to reduce the need to rely on velcro.
Final samples and material decisions
I worked with our suppliers to source a low-cost velour material, allowing us to pursue the same plush texture at a lower cost.
