Weekly Assignment 1

• WHY

This is a LinaBell plush that can be placed on my shoulder and taken outdoors. She was a birthday gift from my friend, which gives her special meaning. Every time I see her, I’m reminded of the wonderful memories from my birthday. She’s super adorable and is my favorite character. Even though I see her every day, she still makes me feel happy every time. What makes her different from other LinaBell plush is that she can sit on my shoulder. There’s a magnet at the bottom of the plushie, along with a round magnetic pad. I can place the magnetic pad inside my clothes and then place LinaBell on top, letting her “sit” securely on my shoulder. That way, she can accompany me when I go out and have fun, such as going to Disneyland to meet the big-sized LinaBell.

• Connection

To me, drawing, toys, and play are all ways to express imagination and explore the world using different languages. When I draw, I'm creating an experience or a story of mine with lines, colors, and shapes. It feels like I'm making my thoughts and emotions visible. When I play with toys, I give life to objects and give them certain meanings and values. And playing itself is about interaction with the surroundings, with others, or even just with ideas and feelings.

Drawing, toy, and playing are all about turning something invisible, like my emotions and ideas, into something that one can see, touch, or experience.

• Define

Toys are objects that provides emotional values. They can hold memories, offer comfort, and spark imagination, often becoming trusted companions in both childhood and adulthood. A toy’s meaning can come from who gave it to you, the stories you create with it, or the feelings it helps you express. With a toy, you can get accompanied, you can immerse your self in your own world. They are a key to one's inner  world, a world where their imagination, childishness, and curiosity were restored. When you hold them, your brain starts to wander and stories start forming..

Play is a free, curious, and creative way of interacting with the world. It’s when you do something not because you have to, but because you want to, whether for fun, discovery, or self-expression. The core of play is the feeling of exploration without pressure.