Darian Shephard / 30 November 2020.

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The above are therapy dolls for children to use in counseling environments. The intention is for children to express their feelings through play, rather then through more traditional talk therapy. The designers intent is for the children interacting with these dolls to make their own conclusions regarding these dolls. The hollow one could symbolize feeling empty, or having a broken-heart. While the round doll with the blue jagged silicone in the centre could symbolize the feeling of having nots in your stomach, or the feeling of butterflies.

 

What I personally find appealing about these therapy dolls is how completely up for interpretation they are. I'm sure everyone who interacts with them could come to different conclusions about what the dolls are symbolizing. That abstract quality is what makes the design so interesting and engaging, and hopefully successful from a therapeutic point of view.