Hypothesis and Research Questions

Hypothesis: _{Can beneficial habits of organization be encouraged in young children (ages 3-10) through a store-bought product?}

_{1.Have any furniture pieces ever been developed to provide an educational experience to children? Which piece has been the most successful in fulfilling its’ purpose?}

_{2. Who are my competitors and what similar educational products are they offering to the user?}

_{3. What research (unrelated to product design) has been conducted on children and their cognitive abilities to sort and group objects or information?}

_{4. How can I translate a Montessori approach to child development into a piece of furniture?}

_{5. How do families currently living in New York City apartments, specifically those in overcrowding situations (2 or more persons per room), manage to keep personal items in order to maintain a safe and comfortable environment? (Are they purchasing storage bin type objects or instead creating space solutions independently).}

_{6. In what market does my product fit most appropriately: low-end affordable (ie. molded plastics, particle board), mid-market (ie. solid wood furniture) or high design, being the most expensive (ie. welded steel, one-offs).}