Spin Master · Interactive consumer product

Bloomables by Hatchimals

Puppyfly transforms a closed flower into an interactive character, then reveals its wings in a second transformation. I led the mechanical architecture that coordinates these actions through a single motor and integrates the motion with sensing, LED lighting, and audio.

Puppyfly revealed in the open Bloomables flower

My contribution: Led mechanical architecture, prototyping, validation, tooling, and production development.
Engineering challenge: Coordinate a repeatable, two-stage transformation through one motor.
Outcome: Released Puppyfly product; more than one million units produced.

01 / Product experience

The transformation

The experience starts with a closed flower. It opens to reveal a Hatchipillar; after care and interaction, the character returns to the flower and emerges as a winged Puppyfly. The sequence can be reset and repeated.

01
A flower opens
Motion, light, and sound introduce the character.
02
A character comes to life
Sensing and responses make care part of the interaction.
03
A second reveal
The flower closes and opens again, revealing the wings.

The released product in its TV commercial

Watch the Bloomables TV commercial on YouTube ↗

Commercial for Spin Master’s 2025 Bloomables line. Archive upload by Echoes of PlayTime.

02 / Development

Engineering the reveal

Several actions needed to happen in the right order, fit inside the product, and remain repeatable. The transmission, cam system, mechanical clearances, and interaction sequence had to work together.

I designed the reduction gear trains and indexed cams that organize the mechanical actions, while working through the physical arrangement of the mechanisms and electronics.

Reduction gear trains

Designed the transmission that carries motor motion through the mechanism.

Indexed cams

Designed the cam system and the mechanical sequence of movements.

Physical packaging

Worked through how the mechanisms and electronics fit together.

Motion sequencing

Integrated the mechanical actions with the product’s light, sound, and sensing.

03 / Development

Building and testing

CNC and 3D-printed prototypes allowed me to evaluate torque, timing, backlash, and tolerance interactions. I used those builds to examine how the mechanisms behaved together and refine the architecture.

I presented the designs and test findings to stakeholders throughout development.

Prototype evaluation

Torque: mechanism loads and available drive torque.
Timing: the sequence of mechanical actions.
Backlash: lost motion through the gear train.
Tolerance interactions: how variation affects the assembled mechanism.

04 / Development

From validation to production

I carried the mechanical design through validation, tooling, and high-volume production. The released Puppyfly product reached a production scale of more than one million units.