Riley Ludwig
COSMI
A weighted plush designed to help alleviate anxiety in individuals with diverse sensory needs. I aimed to achieve this by creating a balance between the cuddliness of a stuffed animal and the coziness of a weighted blanket.Product ResearchWeighted Plushes Weighted Blankets
Product Claims: “Promotes easier bedtimes & better quality sleep”
Customer opinions: Love that the plushes have a lavender scent, how cute they are, and many note that they are very calming.
Product Claims: “Huggably heavy, Snuggles away stress, Sensory soothing texture”
Customer opinions: Appreciate the aesthetics, the softness of the exterior material, and the added sensory benefit of beads in the hands.
Product Claims: “Enhances emotional well-being, Improves Cognition”
Customer opinions: Better sleep, some reported getting too warm.
BearabyWeight: 10,15,20,25 lbs
Product Claims: “Helps you sleep better, Decreases Anxiety, Reduces night-time wake-ups”
Customer opinions: Better sleep and love the softness of the material.
Product Claims: “Helps you sleep better, Decreases Anxiety, Reduces night-time wake-ups”
Customer opinions: Better sleep and love the softness of the material.
Survey Feedback
I distributed a survey featuring five different design options to gauge preferences and perspectives to help inform future design directions.
Option #125.8% of votes
Responses showed positive reaction to longer arms and larger eyes. Option #214.5% of votes
Positive response to “bottom-heavy” appearance. Option #322.6% of votes
Round shape creates a huggable and friendly look. Option #414.5% of votes
Has a “distinct” look. Option #522.6% of votes
Round shape creates a huggable and friendly look.
I distributed a survey featuring five different design options to gauge preferences and perspectives to help inform future design directions.
Responses showed positive reaction to longer arms and larger eyes.
Positive response to “bottom-heavy” appearance.
Round shape creates a huggable and friendly look.
Has a “distinct” look.
Round shape creates a huggable and friendly look.
Pattern DevelopmentPattern #1Done before talking to a pattern maker, knowing very little about making patterns.
Design #1Overall form too small. Sewn form too flat, too much tension in the fabric, causing folds.
Design #2Overall form too small. Sewn form too flat, too much tension causing folds.
Pattern #2Spoke to a plush pattern maker before drafting these patterns; learned how to add darts.
Design #1Sewn form too square, top of head and feet need to be rounded out.
Design #2Sewn form too disproportionate, head too round at the top, and arms didn’t sit right.
Pattern #3Built off of previous patterns, using what I learned about pattern making to fix previous issues.
Design #1Sewn form was disproportional, legs were too thin, arms were too long.
Design #2Sewn form was disproportional, arms were too long, and legs were too thin.
Pattern #4Built off of previous patterns, using what I learned about pattern making to fix previous issues.
Design #1Sewn form was smooth, but legs were too square.
Design #2Sewn form had too much tension in the fabric, but overall form was proportional.
Final Patterns
Final ConstructionExterior FormUsed soft terrycloth for final product, front panel is one full piece, back is two separate pieces to create space to load in weight, face created separately and sewn on top of front panel. Interior WeightUsed cotton fabric to create a pouch to hold the small glass beads that create the weight. Sewed sections into the form to keep the weight evenly distributed.