Stardust and You – Concept Turned into Toy Prototype and Museum Exhibit
Stardust
and You
CLIENT
Carol Gamble – serial entrepreneur, founder of Little Partners®, and inventor of the Learning Tower®. Carol authored the children’s book Stardust and You, a poetic journey that explains the formation of the Universe and our place within it.
Carol approached LA NPDT to bring her vision to life—an immersive, hands-on experience to complement her book. The goal was to design a walkable, physical representation of the spiral of time, where children could explore the story of the Universe chapter by chapter through interactive play.
CHALLENGE
This project represented a creative fusion of art and science. We were tasked with building a large-scale, durable platform—6.5 feet in diameter—strong enough for both kids and adults to walk on. At the same time, it had to match the whimsical visual style of the book and integrate seamlessly with a set of custom-designed toys. Each toy needed to be engaging, educational, and robust enough to withstand frequent use.
SOLUTION
We began by conceptualizing the platform. While early ideas leaned toward a flat structure, we quickly realized that a linear or circular design would not fully capture the narrative’s essence. To express the evolution and movement of time portrayed in the book, we designed a 3D spiral pathway—starting at the base and spiraling upward as the story progresses.
Along the path, children interact with educational toys corresponding to different stages of cosmic evolution—atoms, stars, planets, and more. Some toys fit into custom cavities, others attached magnetically, making them easy to move and engage with.
Our engineering team created 3D CAD models and divided the spiral platform into 35 modular pieces for efficient 3D printing, assembly, and transport. Each segment took between 2 to 5 days to print. While the platform was being fabricated, we prototyped and painted the toys to match the book’s illustrations. This process required close collaboration with the client and a few creative pivots—such as repainting the entire set after feedback indicated that the initial colors were too vibrant. The final paint style was carefully tuned to match the book’s aesthetic.
THE RESULT
The finished prototype was not just a toy—it became a full-scale, interactive educational installation. By integrating storytelling, science, and play, we helped transform Stardust and You from a children’s book into a tangible learning journey.
This concept was later adopted and adapted by Flying Fish for their touring science exhibit Stardust – The Universe in You, created in collaboration with the University of Minnesota Duluth, Telus World of Science Edmonton, Cosmosphere International SciEd Center & Space Museum, and Spark Initiatives.
The exhibit brings cosmic education to life through immersive storytelling and hands-on experiences for children and families across North America.
Ready to Bring Your Idea to Life?
Whether you’re an author, educator, or innovator, LA NPDT can help turn your vision into a validated, functional prototype. Let’s collaborate on creating meaningful, interactive experiences that inspire the next generation.
