Today, a new design drawing of a children's tricycle was provided to Guangdong Industrial College for use in the design competition.

The early spring morning light streamed through the office's glass curtain wall, casting delicate flecks of illumination across the desk. My hand, gripping the mouse, trembled slightly as I watched on the screen—a smoothly designed children's tricycle rotating gracefully at a 45-degree angle within the 3D modeling software. This piece was specially created for the "Childhood Journey to the Future" design competition hosted by the Industrial Design Department of Guangdong University of Technology. It also marked my first groundbreaking attempt in the field of children's mobility device design, following three years of dedicated exploration and refinement in this area.

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The project originated from a deep conversation last autumn with Professor Zhang from the School of Design at Guangdong University of Technology. At that time, they were preparing for the third campus design competition and hoped to introduce themes that carried greater social value. "Ninety percent of commercially available children's tricycles still remain stuck in the stage of functional accumulation," Professor Zhang remarked, "lacking thoughtful consideration of children's psychological development and the needs for parent-child interaction." His words suddenly brought to mind a scene I witnessed last week in the community park: a three-year-old boy was wildly zooming around on a plastic tricycle, while his mother trailed behind, jogging lightly with an umbrella held aloft to shield him from the sun. Meanwhile, the water bottle in the basket kept clattering against the frame with every bump along the way. This vivid image weighed heavily on my mind—clearly, it was time to redefine the design paradigm of children's tricycles.

During the early design phase, the team conducted a two-month-long field study. We meticulously tracked and documented 37 families riding their tricycles in parks and residential communities, uncovering three major pain points associated with traditional tricycles: the fixed seat height causes feet of children aged 1–3 to dangle unsupported; the overly wide steering angle increases the risk of tipping over; and the vehicle's material lacks adequate cushioning features. Surprisingly, 83% of parents expressed their desire for the tricycle to serve as a medium that fosters emotional connections between parents and children. These insights gradually came together like pieces of a puzzle, shaping our design direction toward prioritizing safety, adaptability for growth, and opportunities for interactive engagement.

In the initial draft sketch, we experimented with a modular structure. The seat system features an adjustable rail design, enabling height adjustment via a three-position locking mechanism that accommodates users ranging from 90 to 125 cm in height. The main frame is constructed using a composite structure of aerospace-grade aluminum alloy combined with EPP cushioning material, ensuring the entire vehicle weighs only 7.8 kg while achieving a remarkable impact absorption rate of 67% during crash testing. However, what truly caught the评审组's attention was the innovative "parent-child co-riding mode"—a detachable secondary handlebar system that allows parents to maintain their own riding posture while simultaneously providing dual-handed steering assistance to their young children.

"This curved frame design draws inspiration from the spine of a whale." During the project presentation, I pointed to the rendered images as I explained the aesthetic rationale. The streamlined body not only reduces drag but also visually conveys a sense of secure containment. At the front of the vehicle, the intelligent sensing light cluster automatically adjusts its brightness according to ambient lighting conditions. Meanwhile, the storage compartment concealed beneath the seat features a magnetic-snap opening mechanism—designed both to prevent accidental activation by children and to provide convenient access for items like water bottles or toys. As we unveiled the details of the foldable footrest, a soft murmur of admiration rippled through the audience—this innovative design ensures that children of all ages can comfortably position their feet naturally.

The color system has also been carefully refined. The basic models feature Morandi shades—misty blue and dusty pink—to avoid overly vibrant tones that might overstimulate children's vision. Meanwhile, the specially designed "Nature Exploration" series incorporates heat-transfer printing on the frame surfaces, showcasing intricate natural motifs such as leaf veins and butterfly wings. This asymmetrical visual language is crafted to continually spark children's curiosity.

At the very last moment of submitting the design package, we deliberately included an AR user manual. By scanning specific parts of the vehicle body with a mobile phone, users can access 3D animated demonstrations showcasing the assembly process and safety guidelines—plus, there’s even a fun parent-child cycling game included. This digital interactive approach perfectly aligns with the teaching philosophy of Guangdong University of Technology’s School of Design: "Empowering Traditional Manufacturing through Technology."

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As the design drawings were sent to the competition committee via encrypted email, the kapok flowers outside the window were gently falling. I suddenly recalled Professor Zhang’s words from the project kickoff meeting: "A great design should be like a spring rain—gentle yet transformative, quietly nurturing new life." This brand-new three-wheeled vehicle, the result of 217 iterative sketches and data gathered from 43 rounds of user testing, now rests silently on the exhibition stand at the Guangdong University of Technology Design Lab, eagerly awaiting its creative dialogue with young designers. Perhaps in the near future, one of the winning designs will propel this prototype into mass production, transforming it into a heartwarming sight adorning the balconies of millions of households.

Design has never been an art of self-admiration; rather, it serves as a bridge connecting needs with possibilities. When children ride their tricycles through tree-lined avenues, the cheerful chime of their bells not only echoes with the laughter of childhood—it also reflects the designer’s profound understanding of human scale and sensibility. This collaboration with Guangdong University of Technology marks the beautiful beginning of our shared design journey.

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