3 Khan Multifunctional Kids Product

Nastaran Akbari

Interview about 3 Khan Multifunctional Kids Product, winner of the A' Baby, Kids and Children's Products Design Award 2025

About the Project

The 3 Khan is an innovative product for children aged 1 to 7, designed to enhance creativity and developmental skills through assembly. It transforms into three configurations: Single Table, Double Table, and Cottage, all packaged in The Box of 3 Khan (The Truck). The product promotes practical skills via mechanical connections and tools while encouraging imaginative play. Featuring hand-painted illustrations inspired by The Book of Kings; an epic work of Persian literature, fosters family interaction and storytelling, making it a valuable product for both learning and cultural connection.

Design Details
  • Designer:
    Nastaran Akbari
  • Design Name:
    3 Khan Multifunctional Kids Product
  • Designed For:
    Madstudio
  • Award Category:
    A' Baby, Kids and Children's Products Design Award
  • Award Year:
    2025
  • Last Updated:
    July 12, 2025
Learn More About This Design

View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.

View Design Details
Your innovative approach to combining Persian cultural elements with educational furniture in the 3 Khan Multifunctional Kids Product is remarkable - could you share the journey of integrating storytelling elements from The Book of Kings into a functional children's product?

We have always aimed for the 3 Khan product to be more than just an entertainment tool. In Iran, the education surrounding the Shahnameh has often been overlooked, despite it being one of the most important and influential works in Persian literature, composed over a thousand years ago in the 10th century AD. Beyond its crucial role in preserving the Persian language, the Shahnameh contains many moral and educational tales.In our product, we have selected age-appropriate stories for children, such as the birth of Rostam, the Seven Labors (Haft Khan) of Rostam, and the legendary Simorgh, who plays a key role in helping the hero. These stories are not only exciting and imaginative, but they are also rich in symbolic meaning: Rostam represents bravery and resilience, Simorgh embodies wisdom and nurturing care. As the protector and guide, she is illustrated larger to visually emphasize her central role in the child’s imaginary journey. and the Haft Khan symbolizes personal growth and the confrontation of challenges.To make these stories relatable to children, we consulted with professional writers and incorporated motifs from traditional Iranian art. We also used a color palette inspired by Persian miniature painting, which is bright, expressive, and emotionally engaging for children.Additionally, Iran has a traditional art form called Naqqali, in which a storyteller performs Shahnameh tales in a dramatic and engaging manner. In our design, the role of the storyteller is given to the child’s family, allowing parents or caregivers to narrate the engraved stories on the product, shaped by their own values and parenting styles. This cultural layering allows the product to function not only as a toy but also as a bridge between generations, heritage, and learning.

The sliding aluminum connections in the 3 Khan Multifunctional Kids Product enable three distinct configurations - what inspired this versatile transformation concept, and how did you overcome the engineering challenges to ensure both stability and ease of assembly?

We prioritized both the manufacturing process and ease of assembly. We explored several connection concepts before arriving at our final solution. This idea was inspired by principles from fixture design in manufacturing engineering, which significantly influenced our approach. We selected aluminum as the primary material because it allows for efficient production through extrusion methods. To ensure stability, we carefully calculated and tested the engagement length between the wooden components and the connectors. Importantly, we also accounted for appropriate clearance in these calculations to guarantee a smooth and straightforward assembly process.

How does the 3 Khan Multifunctional Kids Product address the growing concern of technology-driven isolation by fostering meaningful parent-child interactions through its various configurations and storytelling elements?

Since the child cannot assemble the product alone, they need their parents' assistance, which naturally encourages interaction between them. Furthermore, the assembly process is straightforward because it does not involve numerous screws, bolts, or complex components, making it neither time-consuming nor frustrating. As the child actively participates in assembling the 3 Khan product and sees results quickly, their enthusiasm and self-confidence increase. The ability to create different configurations depending on how the parts are assembled keeps the product fresh and engaging for the child, stimulating their mind.In terms of storytelling elements, the 3 Khan product features various illustrations with different designs and colors. This often sparks the child's curiosity, prompting questions such as: Who is this character? Why is she here? Why is her hair reaching down the tower walls? Such questions lead to meaningful conversations between the child and their parents. These interactions become gateways to storytelling, where parents recount the legendary tales behind the illustrations. In many cases, the child’s interest extends beyond the initial story, motivating them to ask about what happened before or after, thereby fostering a deeper connection to Persian literature, especially the Shahnameh.

The hand-painted illustrations on the 3 Khan Multifunctional Kids Product create a unique bridge between traditional Persian literature and contemporary children's furniture - what considerations guided your artistic decisions in making these cultural elements accessible to young users?

During the design process and our review of existing market products, we observed that most children's items feature very simple designs. In contrast, our goal for the 3 Khan was to create a product that is not only functionally unique but also visually appealing to children. With this in mind, we chose the Shahnameh as our narrative theme, as it offers imagery that can be beautifully integrated into the design elements of the 3 Khan. Rather than using stickers, we decided to collaborate with artists, hoping this approach would ignite children's interest in handcrafted art in the future. Furthermore, each artist can infuse their unique style into the product, adding even more value and character.

Could you elaborate on how the developmental needs of children aged 1 to 7 influenced the specific dimensions and ergonomic features of the 3 Khan Multifunctional Kids Product's three configurations?

To ensure that our product suits children aged 1 to 7, we began with ergonomic studies to determine appropriate dimensions for each age group. For example, the seat height needed to be adaptable to support comfort and functionality across a wide age range. As a result, we designed two seat sizes: one optimized for toddlers aged 1 to 3, and another for children aged 3 to 7. These seats can be paired with the desk in various configurations, making the desk comfortably usable for all children in the 1 to 7 age range. The modular design allows the entire product to evolve with the child’s developmental stage — from a playful cottage for toddlers to a functional study space for older kids — ensuring lasting relevance throughout early childhood.

The packaging concept of the 3 Khan Multifunctional Kids Product as 'The Truck' adds another layer of playful interaction - what led to this creative storage solution, and how does it enhance the overall user experience?

In today’s world, where resources are limited, there’s no room for single-use packaging. That’s why we decided early in the design process that the 3 Khan product’s packaging should also be part of the play experience. Instead of a traditional box, 3 Khan is sold inside a wooden truck — a toy vehicle that not only stores all the components neatly but also serves as a functional part of the product itself.Designed with a wooden handle, the truck is easy for children to pull and move by themselves. This mobility makes it more than just packaging — it becomes a part of the play and learning experience.Our research showed that children love transporting things. So we designed this truck to double as a storage unit for toys or personal belongings — something both children and parents can use daily. When the 3 Khan product is used in its table or single-seat configuration, any unused parts can be neatly stored inside the truck. This eliminates the need for parents to find additional storage space and helps keep everything organized.What makes this packaging special is that it immediately sparks curiosity. During user testing, we saw that children were excited to discover how the wooden pieces and connectors emerged from inside the truck, transforming into something entirely new. The truck doesn’t just carry the product — it carries a story, a surprise, and a whole world of creative possibilities.

In developing the 3 Khan Multifunctional Kids Product, how did you balance the practical requirements of durability and safety with the aesthetic goals of creating an engaging, culturally rich piece of children's furniture?

In designing and developing the multifunctional kids' product, The 3 Khan, our goal from the very beginning was to create a genuine balance between practical functionality and cultural-aesthetic identity. We aimed for it to be more than just a plaything; we wanted it to carry meaningful cultural and emotional value. We chose natural, child-safe materials to provide peace of mind for families. Additionally, we carefully shaped the forms and selected colors that would be engaging for children while resonating culturally with parents. The name 3 Khan and its tripartite structure symbolically reference traditional narratives, giving the product a deeper significance beyond its practical use. Our aim was to design an experience where children could play safely, express their creativity, and—perhaps without realizing it—connect with their cultural heritage. For us, The 3 Khan is more than just a product; it is a layered design experience that unites beauty, functionality, safety, and meaning.

What insights from your research into parent-child relationships and modern family dynamics shaped the multifunctional design approach of the 3 Khan Multifunctional Kids Product?

One of our primary concerns from the beginning was to create a product that genuinely addresses the needs of today’s families. Before diving into the design process, we conducted extensive research on parent-child relationships, urban lifestyles, and the challenges of modern parenting. This research was instrumental in shaping our design direction. We aimed for The 3 Khan to be more than just another toy; our goal was to foster meaningful interactions between children and their parents. Recognizing the limited living spaces in urban environments, we focused on designing a product that is multifunctional and compact, while still serving various needs. It was also crucial for us that children take an active role in using the product, making decisions, experimenting, being creative, and developing a sense of independence. This philosophy informed every aspect of our design. Additionally, a personal goal for us was to subtly connect the product to our cultural identity. Inspired by symbolic elements like The 3 Khan and the stories from the Shahnameh, we aimed to create an environment where children could naturally engage with cultural and moral ideas as they play. Ultimately, the 3 Khan represents our effort to demonstrate that it’s possible to design a children’s product that is not only practical but also culturally meaningful, visually appealing, and thoughtfully crafted.

The 3 Khan Multifunctional Kids Product earned recognition with an A' Design Award - how do you envision this achievement influencing your future approaches to children's furniture design and cultural integration?

Winning the prestigious A' Design Award for The 3 Khan was a significant and memorable milestone in our design journey. This achievement represented more than just receiving an award; it confirmed that thoughtfully combining cultural depth with functional design can create a product that is both practical and meaningful, while also gaining recognition on a global level. This experience demonstrated that attention to detail, creativity, and staying true to cultural roots can create lasting value in design.

Looking at the educational aspects of the 3 Khan Multifunctional Kids Product, how did you incorporate elements that support both cognitive development and cultural learning through its various configurations and assembly process?

The 3 Khan Multifunctional Kids Product is designed to enhance both cognitive development and cultural learning in children. This is achieved through its modular design, transformable configurations, and creative assembly process. Here’s how these elements are integrated into the design: - For Cognitive Development:- Interactive Assembly: As children assemble different components, they strengthen their problem-solving abilities, logical thinking, and spatial awareness.- Experiential Learning: The act of assembling and transforming the configurations gives children opportunities for hands-on learning.- Motor Coordination and Focus: Working with various parts improves fine motor skills and enhances concentration.- For Cultural Learning:- Inspired by Cultural Symbols: The name 3 Khan is derived from the epic Shahnameh, subtly introducing children to its cultural and literary themes.- Storytelling During Play: Parents or educators can narrate the stories illustrated on the product, helping children engage with their cultural heritage in a fun and meaningful way.- Intergenerational Interaction: The assembly process and use of the product foster opportunities for shared experiences between parents and children, creating lasting memories and bonding moments.In summary, 3 Khan is more than just a children's product—it's a thoughtfully crafted tool that blends education, creativity, and cultural identity to support a child's overall development.

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