Mix and Sift – Underfoot range
Mix and Sift are mystical fungus creatures that pop up out of the ground every time it rains. Tily brings them chewed leaves and other offerings that they turn into new soil for plants and trees.
Mix and Sift are made from translucent material so children can watch the composting process in their bellies. They have a variety of tools, including sieves, mortar and pestle and scoops.
Playing with the Underfoot toys outside enables children to engage cognitively in the magical natural world. The Underfoot family of character toys are designed to be played with outside in the dirt and undergrowth of the garden. Oke Velvet Worm takes children on a wild adventure into the natural world as children use the characters’ stories to learn about the interlinking ecosystem of characters and their homes in the natural world.
Play with the Underfoot characters encourages children to engage with nature while playing with the toys outside. Children engage in less outdoor play than previous generations. This global trend has impacted a child’s ability to understand and form a relationship with the natural world. Unstructured and imaginative play is where children engage in self-actualised play separate from parental supervision and small-world play, where children develop stories inspired by their immediate surroundings.
The Underfoot range of toys is designed for children aged 5-7. This is a key age when children develop their imagination, communication and social skills and interact more independently with the natural world. Using an eco-fiction framework during the design process enabled the design of more ecologically embodied toys. The Underfoot character toys are themed around the nitrogen cycle system and focus on character play in outdoor spaces. A core design feature is integrating natural materials such as soil, leaves and water during play as part of the toy’s character.
Awards
Designers Institute Best Awards (2024)
Bronze– Product
Core 77 Awards (2024)
Honoree
