Donuts — bath toys with interactive metamorphic design
About the Project
«Donuts» is a collection of three bath toys created as an extension of the raincoat brand featuring hydrochromic graphics.The unique feature of the toys is that the designs appear when in contact with water and fade once dry. The child initiates the transformation themselves, discovering new details and observing the changes.The project transforms ordinary bath time into an exciting game with elements of exploration and magic.
Character Concept
There are three characters—keepers of natural worlds: Deserts, Forests, and Lakes. They are united by a rounded silhouette, minimalist faces, and a poncho shape that references raincoat branding.The unified design allows for the expansion of the collection, creating characters for new natural worlds.
Each character’s individuality is revealed through color and graphics: when the world gets wet, it comes alive—the desert blossoms, the forest carpets itself in moss, and the lake fills with water lilies.
Collection Principles
Constant Elements: — Size and proportions — Hood and face shape — Base and lower section color — Rounded base
Variable Elements: — Natural theme — Color palette — Composition of revealed images
The collection includes three toys; further development of the series is possible through new natural landscapes while maintaining the overall form.
Dimensions
Height — 120 mm
Width — 100 mm
Depth — 100 mm
Construction
— Upper shell: poncho, hood, and face
— Lower shell: rounded base with an internal compartment for a weight
— Fixed weight: an internal component, inaccessible during use
Execution Technique
The project involves layered application of the design onto the toy’s hood and body.The surface is cleaned and prepared for the chosen plastic, then a permanent landscape—a desert, forest, or lake—is applied.
Additional elements—plants, flowers, and frogs—are printed onto the surface.
After drying, these elements are covered with a localized hydrochromic coating. In a dry state, this coating conceals the image, but upon contact with water, it becomes transparent.
Once dry, the coating restores its opacity, and the additional details disappear.
