Designed to work with the Zoku Quick Pop Maker, the Zoku Character Kit, lets users create unique character popsicles in minutes. Animals, faces, and fun characters can be created using fruit slices and the included tools in the Character Kit. The kit includes 14 unique stencils, 1 face plate, 1 stand, 1 pusher tool (for removing fruit slices from the small stencils), and 1 storage case.

Our challenge was to create a simple set of tools that would allow users to easily create unique character pops by adding fruit slices to the walls of the molds within the Quick Pop Maker. The molds of the Zoku Quick Pop Maker are extremely cold, and when anything moist sticks to the walls they instantly stick (like licking a cold flagpole!). Once the fruit slices (usually apples or pears) are added to the walls, juice can be poured in. When the pop is removed the fruit slices appear as graphic elements on the side of the pop. Part of the challenge was to create tools that would allow the fruit slices to be easily aligned within the molds in one simple step during the application. There is nothing like this that exists in the marketplace, so this was a unique opportunity to create an entirely new product experience.

We wanted to create a kit that would allow unlimited creativity, and wouldn’t pigeonhole users into creating a certain kind of predetermined character. The stencils are designed so that they are shapes, rather than facial features (there are no specific eyes, noses, or mouths), so users can really bring their own imaginations to the process. In the instructions we included some character examples, but our primary goal was to encourage boundless creativity.

We created iterative prototypes of many different designs so we could continually improve the tools in the kit. We implemented different designs and materials into the prototypes until we settled on ones that performed the best and fell within our cost parameters. Early on in the prototyping phase we observed users with the products and looked for areas that needed improvement. Since the kit is composed of many small parts we also developed a storage container that also functions as the product’s packaging, so there is no additional packaging waste.

The Zoku Character Kit is the ultimate gladdening device. It brings families and their kids together around a simple activity that is easy to prepare for and clean up after, and it brings a smile to everyone’s face each time a pop is revealed from the mold! It is wholesome creativity. Everyone can bring their own freedom of imagination, and they can make healthy creative treats with their own fresh ingredients. The entire kit is BPA and Phthalate free.