In the 1970s, Mr Khor Ean Ghee transformed Singapore’s landscape with his iconic mosaic playgrounds. Structures like the Toa Payoh "Dragon" were not merely play equipment, but cultural landmarks that translated local identity into functional art. Today, his legacy persists as contemporary designers draw inspiration from his bold geometries to create modern products.

In this unit, Grade 6 students explore the nuanced boundary between imitation and inspiration. Following in Mr Khor’s footsteps, students will observe Singapore’s unique nature or architecture to develop original playground equipment.

To bridge the gap between a raw concept and a functional prototype, students utilise a suite of cognitive and technical design tools. They will employ SCAMPER to iterate on existing forms, sketch-noting to visualise ideas, and style adaptation to ensure their work resonates with the source material. Through peer feedback and refining technical drawings, students move from an initial spark of inspiration to a considered design solution.