The Ever Tower

Senior Capstone Project Fall 2024- Spring 2025

The problem

There is a significant disconnect between children and parents when it comes to play.

Children do not get enough use out of toys or children’s products before they grow out of them.

Parents and adults change with the child and will no longer have a need for a product when a child grows up.

How might we incorporate children into home life through play in order to facilitate the connection between children and adults?

Research

The Waldorf educational approach, developed by Rudolf Steiner, is a holistic teaching method that emphasizes nurturing the whole child through developmentally

appropriate, arts-integrated learning experiences.

What is the Waldorf Educational Approach?

Simplicity
Beauty
Connection
Imagination

The approach views education as an art form that cultivates imagination, practical skills, and social-emotional intelligence.

Insight from parents

"Kids really want jobs and purpose, They want to feel part of it, and feel like they're important"

Benjamin, Parent

"I like something functional: Different sized shelves, closed storage, easy to put together"

Jaden, Parent

"I don't want it to be an eyesore"

Marie, Parent

"The simplest things inspire creativity. A cardboard box can be anything; it can even be a cardboard box!"

Benjamin, Parent

Insight from Designers

"Safety and functionality come first; everything else is secondary'"

Anthony Robertson, Product & Furniture Designer

"The product should get the child involved; it's a tactile way to educate the child"

Bruna Maduriera

Design & Innovation Consultant

"It's about assisting the child in integrating into the environment"

Frances Giraldo

Waldorf Educator

"If it doesn't work with interiors, it won't be that successful"

Anthony Robertson

Product & Furniture Designer

Design Objectives

Versitality & Functionality

Seamlessly transitions between a toy for children and a functional piece of furniture for adults using transformable elements.

Complements any living space, blending harmoniously with its surroundings.

Child Centric Features

Encourages imaginative play and creativity, aligning with

Waldorf educational principles.

Fosters practical life skills.

Design features that can grow with the child, allowing for increasingly complex play and learning as they develop.

Safety & Durability

Use non-toxic, splinter-free materials that are safe for children.

Incorporate smooth, rounded edges to prevent injuries.

A low center of gravity and sturdy construction to prevent tipping or collapsing.

Sustainability & QUality

Use sustainable, high-quality materials that are durable and long-lasting, reducing the need for frequent replacements.

Create a classic, enduring aesthetic that won’t quickly become outdated, ensuring long-term use and value.

Mood board

Concept Ideation

Organic shapes

& forms

Play kitchen elements

Natural wood

& non-toxic materials

functional furniture

shelving & storage

play features

Initial Sketches & Concepts

Initial Concepts

01

A functional book shelf that folds out into a play cafe or store front

02

A toddler kitchen tower that transforms into a play unit with climbing features

03

A functional coffee table with modular toy kitchen pieces

A toddler kitchen tower that transforms into a play unit with climbing features

Chosen Concept

Transformable

Kitchen Tower

This design facilitates play and practical life skills, while encouraging interaction between the child and parent side- by-side play and work.

Sketches

prototypes

Large scale prototype to validate overall size, form, and transformability

Small scale prototypes to validate foldability, function and form

Adjusted proportions, function, mechanisms, and features

1:1 1/8th scale model to validate dowel locking system and additional features

Concept Refinement

Screenshot 2025-04-04 at 2.33_edited.png

decided on basic shape, functions and design

added a drawer step and slots for shelves

changed over-all form and edges

added material for structural support

added cover for bench feature

added desk feature

refined materials, shelf depth, and measurements

added dowel holes

added slide/ ladder feature

changed proportions to be less bulky

finalized sizes and measurements

finalized mechanisms and transformability

added adjustable step and seat

01

02

03

04

05 Feedback

"Make sure pieces are easily adjustable but not so easily that they may fall/ close on child"

Designer

"Colors may help minimize visual mass"

Professor

"How can this be more functional for the home, not just for children?"

Parent

'Will there be any color? Kids would like a more colorful space"

Parent

"Make it less bulky"

Professor

How could the structure be altered to be more visually engaging to children?”

Designer

"If dowels are same size, use screw caps to secure them"

Designer

“Can the step/ seat be adjustable?”

Parent

Dowels can be added anywhere for extra safety, support, shelves, peg board hooks, and more.

Final Design

A grid dowel-lock system allows for countless play opportunities and "modes".

“Tower Mode” allows a toddler to stand at counter height to work along-side a parent in the kitchen or any adult size space.

Colored end-caps can be added for play &

fine-motor skills or as an additional safety measure, locking dowels and parts into place.

A slide attaches with a single dowel and can be stowed away on any side of the tower.

Added dowels create a climbing ladder.

A hinge mechanism easily changes the tower to “Desk Mode” with a flat surface for crafts and activities and an adjustable seat.

“Bench Mode” can be accessed by locking the slide on top of the desk.

The pieces can come apart for additional modes and

use opportunities.

Process work

CNC cut pieces from CAD design

Sanded and filed parts

Cut dowel caps

Stained and assembled finished parts

Rooted in the Waldorf approach,

the Ever Tower, is a multifunctional, transformable piece of furniture that can be used throughout all different stages of life.

Using a dowel-lock system, the Ever Tower can transform between a toddler tower, desk, slide & ladder, and bench.

The Ever Tower encourages both independent play and side-by-side work with an adult, to build fine motor skills, imaginative play, creativity, and meaningful relationships.

When the child has outgrown the tower, the bench feature can be utilized to give the product a long life and continue to facilitate the connection between a child and their parent.

The Ever Tower

Product Details

Materials

Made with sustainably sourced FSC Birch Plywood. Lead and phthalate free, non-toxic 0 VOC finish.

Safety

Design features align with New York State (NYS) guidelines for non-toxic materials, structural integrity, and accessibility limitations to mitigate risks.

Age

Tower, desk, slide, and ladder features are recommended for ages 18 months to 6 years or up to 175 lbs (80 kg). Bench is for all ages up to 250 lbs (113 kg).

Age

Converts seamlessly into step-stool & toddler tower, bench, and desk. Adjustable access step & seat

(3 heights).