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Maple's Workout
By : Brooke Wreay, Kaitlyn Gehrels, Tyler Young, Bruno Oro
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN 18th edition
Distinctions
Discipline : Student
Categories : Students work / Student - Graphic Design : Bronze certification
Maple’s Workout is a research-driven children’s book designed to help young readers, particularly those with physical disabilities, better understand and engage with their physical therapy routines. Building on the success of Maple’s Clinic Visit, this second book in the series follows Maple the teddy bear through a day of playful but purposeful therapeutic activities. The goal is to support emotional readiness, reduce resistance, and foster a sense of agency and confidence in children participating in rehabilitation programs.
The story is based on real pediatric therapy practices and was developed in collaboration with clinicians and rehabilitation specialists. Every illustrated activity in the book reflects common therapeutic interventions used to support mobility, strength, coordination, and respiratory care in children with a range of physical needs. From doing nebulizer treatments to aquatic therapy exercises, Maple makes the unfamiliar feel approachable, even fun.
What sets this project apart is its commitment to aesthetic empathy and narrative clarity. The illustrations are intentionally soft, inclusive, and grounded in real clinical equipment, abstracted just enough to maintain emotional warmth and accessibility. Children see the actual tools and movements they will encounter in therapy, within the comforting frame of a friendly, relatable character. This approach allows them to emotionally rehearse and mentally prepare for what they’ll be doing, lowering anxiety and improving engagement.
The book is also designed as a tool for parents, caregivers, and therapists. It creates a shared language and a visual reference point, making it easier to introduce new exercises, explain goals, and turn therapy into a more collaborative and less intimidating experience.
Like its predecessor, Maple’s Workout was developed as part of a larger research initiative focused on inclusive design in pediatric healthcare. Three industrial design students were deeply involved in the project, contributing to everything from narrative development to character design and full illustration. Their creativity and empathy were essential in shaping a product that is both visually engaging and therapeutically accurate.
At its core, Maple’s Workout is more than a story. It is a design-based intervention meant to empower children in their rehabilitation journey, turning therapy into something they can understand, anticipate, and even enjoy.
Collaboration
Student : Designable