If children learn through play, why can’t college students do the same?  In Villa Maria College Interior Design Studio 5 students are challenged to re-design an early childhood education center.  According to the standards of design development research is a critical phase.  It’s not uncommon for this phase to be completed through reading and study.  But there’s nothing like testing your own theories and observing human reaction.  It intrinsically connects the researcher to their work .  Motivation becomes stronger. Results grow in significance.  In the end the designers gain greater understanding of their primary user group and provide design solutions that surpass text book study.  How is this accomplished?  Simple child’s play.  In order to understand how a child will learn through play the college students designed and fabricated a toy with a specific learning objective.  Then it was tested…. on a 4 year old.  This also tested their knowledge and assumptions of the cognitive and physical abilities of their test group… the 4 year old.  Each student had expectations of how the toy would be engaged, what would interest the child, if the learning objective would be met, and if the toy had appeal.  When you’re dealing with a 4 year old results are very honest and research findings are authentic.  The benefit of this research project is the quality of design that is evident in the final project.  The deeper understanding of the 4 year old and the connection to original research motivates the designer and provides critical  insights. And as a bonus….toys that were appropriate were donated to the Bethel Head Start facility that is used for this design project.