Trick Shot Action

Hearthsong had a track record of success with indoor games, but those items had been sourced rather than developed, leaving the company susceptible to losing ground to competitors (or the suppliers themselves) selling the same product. Additionally, Hearthsong had multiple upcoming retail meetings where quick action in this category could have an impact on sales in less than a 12-month period.

Having a small 1-person team at the time and a tight timeframe, I quickly brainstormed some ideas that would build off of supplier competencies while introducing a “multiplier” element that would make items unique. Two ideas in particular arose out of a conversation around the popularity of trick shot videos online, and how they are becoming almost sport-like in their fanbase and proliferation.

The first concept, “Bounce With It”, was derived from the idea of combining repositionable bounce pads with a target, allowing experimentation and variety in the creation of trick shot challenges using a bouncing ball.

The second concept, “Proton Power”, arose out of a discussion of elevating the commodity category of ball blaster targets. To increase the challenge level, I conceptualized a spinning arm that would spin at an unpredictable variable speed, requiring skill and speed to blast balls into the target openings.

These prototypes were 2 of the most well-received items in the 2023 Hearthsong booth, and were the beginning of a new chapter for the brand.

My Role(s): Project Leader, Concept Creator
Other Credits: Matt Gunter (Concept Visualization)

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