Industrial - Bachelor
Ban Ban is an adaptive wearable safety companion designed to help children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in staying safe during moments without direct supervision. Friendly, colourful, and portable, Ban Ban empowers neurodivergent children through companionship and emotional comfort while providing parents with gentle reassurance. A little buddy for big courage.
In China, approximately 1 in every 1,000 children is diagnosed with ASD. These children are three times more likely to wander than their neurotypical peers. Families often face immense challenges in fostering safety and independence, limited by a lack of affordable and sensory appropriate tools.
ASD is a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by differences in social communication, interaction, and behaviour. Many children with ASD may experience challenges related to safety and independence, including tendencies to wander or elope without warning. Conventional wearable safety devices often overstimulate or distress them with its materials, sound and light.
For children aged 4-7 year old with ASD in China, developing safety and independence is an urgent need shaped by the complex external environment. Persistent stigma and limited public understanding often result in families to hide their child’s conditions, to avoid shame and discrimination. As a result, these families would be isolated and have reduced the opportunities for learning and social engagement, which creates a continuous negative cycle.
Parents, often mothers, carry significant emotional and financial responsibilities with limited access to accessible supports and resources externally, leaving a limited capacity to teach safety awareness or practice real world skills. A parents’ emotional wellbeing directly influences a child’s self-regulation, making it vital to reduce parental stress and enhance confidence through supportive tools.
Children with ASD are particularly vulnerable to safety risks like wandering, both in public and at home. Their ability to recognise danger develops through repeated real-world experiences, opportunities that are often unavailable.
At the same time, developing basic independence skills is essential for school enrolment and social participation. A safe and supportive tool that bridges these two needs is therefore vital.
Benchmarking revealed a clear market gap. In China, there are very limited range of existing safety products designed for children with ASD, forcing parents to adapt to other existing products. Internationally, wearable safety products are expensive and hard to access. This leaves a critical gap for a solution that is both affordable and adaptable.
• 78% of parents expressed strong concern for their child’s public safety, yet over half (52.78%) had not purchased any safety products.
• 56.25% of Chinese experts identified public wandering as a major risk.
• Parents prioritised comfort, durability, and a low-profile appearance to avoid discrimination.
• Experts ranked anti-removal design, GPS accuracy, and ease of use as the most critical features.
The primary research, which initially focused on children aged 2-7, was refined for the final product to target the 4-7 age group, where the need for early independence skills becomes more crucial. Analysis of the collected data led to six core design implications that directly informed the initial concepts and the final design solution.
The design phase prioritised the attachment mechanism, identified as crucial for ensuring security and comfort. Iterative prototyping and peer feedback led to a multi-element attachment system combining a secure child-lock, snap-fit structure, small magnets, and customisable aesthetic elements. This system ensures adaptability, safety, and comfort for diverse sensory preferences.
Ban Ban protects children with ASD in China during unsupervised moments, providing both emotional and physical support. Its playful form and customisable appearance encourage acceptance and a sense of ownership, while the connected application reduces stress on the parents. By enabling parents to feel assured and connected, Ban Ban indirectly supports the child’s emotional regulation and independence, fostering calm and confidence for both. Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, Ban Ban is designed to accompany children through everyday exploration.
Unlike generic trackers (e.g., AirTags, which use hazardous button batteries and lack considerations for the sensory sensitivities of children with ASD), Ban Ban is designed with safety and functionality at its core.
• Reduces parents’ stress through showing live locations of the child using a connected app
• Features no screen to avoid overstimulation, keeping only essential functions with the child
• A protective silicone cover makes it durable and portable
• Interchangeable silicone covers and stickers allow the child to participate in the design, increasing acceptance and wearability
• Snap-fit design facilitates easy maintenance and repair, supporting sustainability
An intuitive switch located at the base.
The child lock mechanism is inspired by the cam lock to prevent the child from removing the device.
The product is designed to be cost-effective and comfortable to use. The main body components are injection-moulded from ABS plastic, selected for its low cost, light weight, and durability. The outer cover is made from food-grade silicone, providing a soft, waterproof, and tear-resistant layer that is safe for children to use.
The assembly primarily utilises snap-fit connections, aligning with principles of design for disassembly and sustainability. With an estimated production cost of approximately $5 AUD, Ban Ban presents a highly affordable solution compared to existing market alternatives.
A little buddy for big courage.
Xuanxuan is an industrial designer passionate about creating human-centred products and services that enhance everyday life. Drawing on a diverse cultural background, they approach design with empathy and curiosity, seeking to bridge cultures and perspectives. Their work blends creative storytelling with thoughtful detailing, focusing on inclusive and socially impactful solutions that empower people and foster meaningful connections.