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Carophone

A hand-held music box that lets young children compose and play back their own melodies.

IMG · carophone.jpg — hero photo

Carophone is a small, durable music box designed for children aged 3–8. It lets children record short melodic sequences by pressing coloured buttons, then play them back — alone, or together with others.

The interaction model was developed iteratively with the help of test sessions with children. The result is intentionally simple: a small number of inputs, clear physical feedback, and forgiving behaviour that encourages experimentation rather than precision.

The enclosure is made from CNC-milled wood with rubberised edges — designed to survive the daily life of a child.