Hykemoot is my thesis project, created to help kids rediscover the joy of playing outside. Designed for children ages 6 to 8, Hykemoot is a product bundle that encourages exploration, curiosity, and hands-on learning in nature. Through an interactive app, customizable characters, and storytelling toys, kids are guided through real-world missions where they collect, document, and journal about what they find. Each completed mission unlocks a short animation that teaches them more about the world around them, while helping their character grow. Hykemoot makes outdoor play feel like a magical quest and reminds kids that adventure lives just outside the door.
Today, American children are spending more time online than ever before. On average, kids between the ages of 8 and 12 spend 4 to 6 hours a day watching or using screens, including smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, TVs, and computers. This shift has led to rising concerns around physical health, mental well-being, and a growing gap between young children and their environment.
I designed Hykemoot as an adventure kit that blends outdoor play with storytelling. Kids complete real world missions through the app, teach their character about nature, and unlock new items as they explore. The toys, notebook, and activity book all bring the experience to life beyond the screen.
The Hykemoot activity book is filled with hands-on adventures that spark creativity and encourage outdoor play. Kids are invited to collect leaves to build bouquets, craft tiny hats and friends for their Hykemoot using flowers and twigs, and enjoy nature-themed coloring pages. One of my favorite pages is a color wheel challenge where children head outside to find natural objects like leaves, flowers, sticks, and grass that match each color on the wheel. Every activity is designed to connect kids with the outdoors through play, art, and curiosity.
As part of Hykemoot, I hand-carved three original toys, each made to be produced with nature-safe wood and sealed with a child-safe finish. Every toy has its own backstory, habitat, and unique packaging that brings its character to life. To deepen the connection between the physical and digital experience, each toy comes with miniature versions of the app icons — a tiny camera, notebook, and magnifying glass — inviting kids to play, imagine, and explore beyond the screen.
The full Hykemoot bundle brings the entire experience together in one playful, adventure-ready set. It includes a nature-inspired phone case that reflects the environment of the app, a life-size notebook modeled after both the app icon and the toy version, the hand-carved Hykemoot toy, a hands-on activity book, and a Hykemoot-themed tote bag to carry it all. Every item in the bundle is designed to support exploration, creativity, and connection with the natural world — making it easy for kids to bring their adventures wherever they go.
