Toss Up
Portable Outdoor Yard Game
A Portable Outdoor Social Game
Designed to bring people together with multiple game-plays where multiple people can join in the fun! Toss Up is a portable outdoor yard game to share with family and friends.
This project was designed as an entreprenuership experience. Collaborating on a team of 3 students, we deisgned a product and brand to build and sell 15 units of our product.
Identifying the Opportunity
Starting with looking at the current market, the team looked to identify what makes these games popular.
The current games on the market are typically made for 4 players, can we design a game to accomidate a bigger crowd?
What do popular yard games do games do well?
After surveying 125 people, it was found that the most liked actions while playing a backyard game are:
Throwing
Conversing (conversation with people)
Bouncing
It was also seen that people want a game that is easy to set up and easy to learn. People want something simple that you can talk through and invite others into.
It's easily clear to see these aspects in popular yard games like Cornhole, Spikeball, or Kan Jam.
How can we design a new yard game that measures up to the current options on the market but brings a new and innovative experience?
The Goals
Fit the Current Market
Design a game that is on par with what is in the current market.
Portable & Easy to Store
Easy for the conusmer to take places and store where they choose.
Include 4+ Players
A social game that allows a group of people to join in the fun!
Simple to Learn & Play
Easy for people to jump right in and not have to think too much when learning how to play.
Sell a Small Batch
Create 15 units to do a small batch sell at the end of the semester.
Create a Brand
Design branding and packaging to compliment the product.
Inital Brainstorm and Sketching
Lo-Fi Prototype and User Research
4 Game Modes to Test
CornholeS
Horizontal Darts
Target Toss
Cornhole
Interviewed 11 Women & 12 Men
aged 17-28
Questions Asked
Before Playing
> How do you think you play this game?
> What do you think the rules are?
While Playing
> How do you feel about the size/shape of
the board?
> How many players could you see joining in this?
>What do you think about the objects you
are throwing?
> Would you like it if the board/throwing pieces were magnetic?
>How would you want to keep score while
playing this?
After Playing
> Which game was your favorite? Why? What would you change about it?
> Is this game play the right amount of difficulty?
User Research Summary
- People like the idea of having MORE THAN ONE OPTION of games to play
- 95% of participants said they would like it if the board and/or peices were MAGNETIC
- The board size was okay, but could be SLIGHTLY BIGGER
- We need clearer INSTRUCTIONS, especially on the distance people stand from the board
- People want to feel like they are making PROGRESS while playing
Idea Development
Mid-Fi Prototype and User Research
8 Participants in User Testing Round 2
User Research Summary
- LESS DENSE hacky sacks are better
- Folding function for the WIN, people thought it was PORTABLE before we even folded it up. And when we folded it up people thought it ADDED VALUE.
- Kids loved it
- Older people loved the SIMPLE PLAY. People were often surprised how simple it was.
- People were INTRIGUED from the distance
- Was called a "yard drinking game" with no context
Golden Prototype
- Use thinner plywood for all the pieces to help with both the overall weight & the game board’s ability to stick to the magnets in the main structure
- Rather than paint the dartboard, we found a printing company that willing to provide us with laminated, adhesive assets to apply to the metal sheets, saving us time and preventing possible craft issues
Production
Sale Booth
Outcome
- We sold all 15 units at ther DAAPshop showcase.
- Sold for $205 each.
