AI-Driven Design of Emotionally Supportive Toys for Child Development: An Iterative Process

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Background Emotional support is critical for children's social skills and well-being. Children exposed to emotional support at an early age can foster resilience and interpersonal skills. As traditional support methods lack interactive and personalized engagement, innovative, technology-driven solutions are consequently developed.Objective This project aimed to develop an AI-driven "emotional mentor"embodied in a plush bear whose inherent characteristic is comfort and companionship. The goal was to create a visually appealing and emotionally supportive tool that encourages children to recognize and express their feelings through gentle interaction. The design specifically targets children aged 3-11, a critical period of emotional development defined by Freudian psychology.Method The project utilized AI visual generation models guided by precise prompts, following a systematic, iterative design process. Initial design concepts were generated by AI visual generation models with precise prompts. Early outputs were critically evaluated for inconsistencies, excessive detail, and unwanted features. After iterative updates, the prompts can finally output simplicity, warmth, and an inviting appearance. LoRA fine-tuning was used to balance function and aesthetics. Market research informed the incorporation of subtle "breathing"motion effects, and user perception testing also informed the design.Results The iterative design process yielded a prototype of an emotionally supportive plush toy with refined visual aesthetics and glowing interactive features. The AI-assisted design facilitated the exploration of a range of design concepts and the systematic improvement of the toy's visual and interactive elements.Conclusion This study presents a detailed, AI-assisted iterative approach to designing an emotionally supportive plush toy. The design process and interactive visual features are the core. Future work may explore additional functionalities to further enhance the system's emotional support capabilities.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 2025 International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Educational Systems, ICAIES 2025
PublisherAssociation for Computing Machinery, Inc
Pages160-168
Number of pages9
ISBN (Electronic)9798400715068
DOIs
StatePublished - 25 Jul 2025
Event2025 International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Educational Systems, ICAIES 2025 - Beijing, China
Duration: 25 Apr 202527 Apr 2025

Publication series

NameProceedings of the 2025 International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Educational Systems, ICAIES 2025

Conference

Conference2025 International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Educational Systems, ICAIES 2025
Country/TerritoryChina
CityBeijing
Period25/04/2527/04/25

Keywords

  • AI-assisted Design
  • AIGC
  • Child development
  • Emotional Support Toy
  • Iterative Design Process

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