withinreach.
Within Reach explores how sensory design can support adolescents experiencing anxiety. The project focuses on creating tactile, interactive pieces that encourage touch, focus, and curiosity. By combining soft materials and modular forms, it aims to make therapeutic engagement more approachable and comforting.
WithinReach explores the use of tactile, sensory engagement to support adolescents navigating stress, anxiety, or emotional regulation challenges. Many existing tools in counselling spaces are repetitive, made from similar materials, and often overlooked, limiting their effectiveness. This project investigates how material, texture, and form can be intentionally designed to encourage interaction, offering comfort and focus while promoting a sense of agency. Drawing from principles of Lego-based therapy and sensory play, the work emphasises hands-on engagement, exploring how different weights, resistances, and surfaces can create meaningful sensory experiences. The design aims to bridge educational and therapeutic contexts, providing a tool that is approachable, engaging, and versatile. By experimenting with natural, tactile, and responsive materials, WithinReach seeks to transform how adolescents experience sensory tools, making them more inviting, emotionally supportive, and accessible, while highlighting the importance of touch and interaction in mental health and learning environments.
