Suhasini Paul is a toy designer who used to create her own toys when she was young. She feels that “as a game designer, making strategies for board games while imparting knowledge is a challenge by itself”, here’s her story.

1. How long have you been designing toys and how did you get into it?

Suhasini: As a child I used to create my own toys and games. Five years back I took it up as a profession. I post-graduated as a Toy Designer from National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.

2. You were short-listed for Business World Design Excellence Award’05, what was this for and how has the recognition benefited your career?

Suhasini: ‘Dialogue’ was the outcome of my research project on ‘Selective Mutism’. It is an aid to improve communication for kids and an answer to a serious disorder: ‘Selective Mutism’. Child can record a voice into it and then play it to hear what sense it makes. It facilitates to communicate verbally and helps shy children to open up.

Getting short-listed for Business World Design Excellence Award in 2005 was a good platform to meet different people from the industry and to share my thoughts about children.

3. Suhasini, would you please tell us the working of mobius play?

Suhasini: Mobius PLAY is a hand-held toy, which challenges the manual dexterity and concentration of the player. The toy constitutes of a continuous mobius ring, having its ends permanently joined together and a dual snout magnetic roller.

4. How the design Chakla - a roti maker enables a reduction in the friction between the roti and the chakla?

Suhasini: More than half a billion households in India use ‘chakla-belan’ to make ‘roti’. They are made from wood, metal, plastic and stone (with / without legs). However a novice can use none of them comfortably. How often can an amateur cook roll out absolutely circular ‘roti’s’? The product developed by me is meant for efficient ‘roti’ making keeping in mind the simplification of rotary motion which is essential for a ‘roti’ to get an even thickness and round shape. Maintenance is easy with no grooves and notches, giving due importance to hygiene. The ‘chakla’, designed by me, by virtue of its unique form has an inherent quality for rotating on its own. Its unique shape helps initiate rotary motion in it due to circular to and fro motion of the ‘belan’ over it.

Advantages over existing ‘chakla’:

• No expertise is required to roll out a circular and evenly thick ‘roti’ using this product.

• The user do not have to apply uneven pressure on the ‘belan’ (as required in existing models), to rotate the, ‘roti’ in order to get a round shaped ‘roti’.

• Since there is only one component, it’s easy to clean and no nail is required to attach any stand (which usually gets rusted after use).

• Additional flour required reducing the friction between the ‘roti’ and the ‘chakla’ is less, thus enhancing the softness, nutritive value and taste of the ‘roti’ after it is roasted.

5. How do you generally begin with the design process?

Suhasini: It begins with observation and needs identification, which leads to analysis and conclusion on what has to be done.

6. What were your favorite product lines to work on, and why?

Suhasini: I have worked on various children products like lunch box, water bottle, and pencil box etc., adding play value to them. However, I enjoy designing Board Games the most. As a game designer, making strategies for board games while imparting knowledge is a challenge by itself, as I have to play the game from both the ends.

7. Can you describe an evolution in your work?

Suhasini: Most of my academic projects dealt with material and technical aspects of products and toys for children…. and when I actually started working in the industry, I have discovered my potential to be an educational aids and board game designer. Of course, my work evolves in every project I do. I like to go to toyshops and see how people pick my games. It’s really satisfying to see that. Getting educator’s appreciation is what I had always longed for. My games evolve with the needs and desires of children. I think my work keeps on evolving. And I am happy about the fact that children, parents and teachers like these, it gives me a thrust to design more. Their feedback gives me opportunity to evolve.

8. Which of your projects has given you the most satisfaction?

Suhasini: Water Cycle – a board game, the first game designed by me, is selling successfully in 14 countries all over the globe and well appreciated by teachers in India, it was a part of my diploma project, ‘Green Play’ - Playful Learning of Environmental Basics, which is based on imbibing environment awareness in children and teaching them nature concepts in a playful way. ‘Green Play’ is a series of educational board games and puzzles focusing on topics closely linked to the child’s life and environment. It aims at developing in the child a positive attitude and sensitivity towards environment. The series includes the following list of games / puzzles: -

1. Nature Cycles

Changing seasons - rising sun - flowers to fruit and many such things amazes a child. In this colorful puzzle the child learns while assembling, the different stages of the cycles in nature and to how one thing lead to another.

Target audience- 4 yrs and above.

2. My 10 Rules

Child will learn about good habits that save our environment. This puzzle introduces children to how saving the sources of energy leads to a better environment. While assembling the puzzles, one can interact with the child by asking him about good and bad habits.

Target audience- 3 yrs and above.

3. Water Cycle

This is an exciting adventurous race game where the child will come to know about the water cycle in nature and how water moves in different forms through different places. Child will move to all the places along the path on the game board eventually learning the journey of water.

Target audience- 8 yrs and above.

9. Where do you see yourself, let’s say, five years down the line?

Suhasini: Pursuing the same profession on a bigger platform.

10. Any flying tips, you’d like to leave for our readers?

Suhasini: ‘Many of us think we are different but few believe they can make a Difference.” Be a Doer.

Quick bits:

Suhasini: ‘Balancing Cactus Game’- Plan toys, a Good Toy Award winning product designed by my Thai friend Aniwat Rerkrai. I really like this toy. It is endless fun playing with it…I feel I could have designed it.

What music is on your iPod or radio?

Suhasini: Here I am – Bryan Adams

Who would you like to design something for?

Suhasini: Disney, characters toys

How would you label/categorize your work?

Suhasini: Design for play

Your wildest dream would be?

Suhasini: My wildest dream would be to own a Toy Company which will provide toys to everybody–from Children, Teachers, Play therapists, Pediatrics to elderly people.

Thank you Suhasini for sparing out time in doing an interview with us, it is greatly appreciated. I’d also like to wish you success for all your future endeavors.