Journals / Mobilya ve Ahşap Malzeme Araştırmaları Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 9 Sayı: 1

An object between furniture and toy: user experiences with learning towers in a Turkish online marketplace

Mobilya-oyuncak sınırında bir nesne: Türkiye’de bir çevrimiçi pazaryerinde öğrenme kuleleri üzerine kullanıcı deneyimlerinin nitel analizi

Ozan Soyupak(Marmara Üniversitesi / Mimarlık ve Tasarım Fakültesi / Endüstriyel Tasarım Bölümü)0000-0003-4316-1712
İlayda Soyupak(Marmara Üniversitesi / Mimarlık ve Tasarım Fakültesi / Endüstriyel Tasarım Bölümü)0000-0002-3770-420X
Pages
17–30
Publication Date
2026-06-30
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Using a reflective thematic analysis approach, the findings reveal seven interconnected themes: production and assembly experiences, design and safety perceptions, materiality and value, spatial accommodation, parent-child participation, purchasing motivations, and communication with sellers.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Children’s early participation in homes demands responsive, responsible design solutions.
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Key Findings & Data:This study examines how learning towers, which are situated between furniture and toys, are experienced, evaluated, and integrated into daily life by parents in Türkiye.
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Conclusion & Impact:Using a reflective thematic analysis approach, the findings reveal seven interconnected themes: production and assembly experiences, design and safety perceptions, materiality and value, spatial accommodation, parent-child participation, purchasing motivations, and communication with sellers.
🔬Design:Review & Systematic Survey
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Mobilya · Oyuncak · Öğrenme Kulesi

Abstract

Children’s early participation in homes demands responsive, responsible design solutions. This study examines how learning towers, which are situated between furniture and toys, are experienced, evaluated, and integrated into daily life by parents in Türkiye. Based on user reviews from a major online marketplace with the highest number of reviews, this research was conducted to understand user perceptions regarding the object's material quality, spatial compatibility, safety features, and role in daily routines. Using a reflective thematic analysis approach, the findings reveal seven interconnected themes: production and assembly experiences, design and safety perceptions, materiality and value, spatial accommodation, parent-child participation, purchasing motivations, and communication with sellers. The learning tower emerges as a sociomaterial actor that shapes/is shaped by domestic practices, parenting ideals, and emotional expectations. The study contributes to design research by connecting Montessori-informed principles, practice theory, and online consumer culture to the real-world use of child-related furniture. The knowledge gained will serve as a guide for highlighting the complex meanings of ordinary domestic items and drawing conclusions for child-centered product design.

Özet

Çocukların ev ortamına erken yaşta dâhil olması, duyarlı ve sorumlu tasarım çözümleri ihtiyacını doğurur. Bu çalışma, mobilya ile oyuncak arasında konumlanan öğrenme kulelerinin Türkiye’deki ebeveynler tarafından nasıl deneyimlendiğini, değerlendirildiğini ve gündelik hayata entegrasyonunu incelemektedir. Bu ürün özelinde, en çok değerlendirilme sayılarına sahip olan büyük bir çevrimiçi pazaryerindeki kullanıcı yorumlarına dayanan bu araştırma, nesnenin malzeme niteliği, mekânsal uyumu, güvenlik özellikleri ve günlük rutinlerdeki rolüne ilişkin kullanıcı algılarını anlamak amacıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Yansıtıcı tematik analiz yaklaşımı kullanılarak gerçekleştirilen çalışmada bulgular; üretim ve montaj deneyimleri, tasarım ve güvenlik algısı, malzeme-değer ilişkisi, mekânsal yerleşim, ebeveyn-çocuk etkileşimi, satın alma motivasyonları ve satıcı iletişimi olmak üzere yedi ilişkili tema ortaya koymuştur. Öğrenme kulesi, gündelik pratikleri, ebeveynlik ideallerini ve duygusal beklentileri şekillendiren sosyo-maddesel bir aktör olarak belirginleşmektedir. Çalışma, Montessori yaklaşımı, pratik kuramı ve çevrimiçi tüketici kültürünü bir araya getirerek çocuk odaklı nesnelerin gerçek yaşam kullanımlarına ilişkin tasarım araştırmalarına katkı sunmaktadır. Elde edilen bilgiler, sıradan eşyaların taşıdığı karmaşık anlamları ortaya çıkarmak ve çocuk merkezli ürün tasarımı adına bir rehber görevi görecektir.

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Cite This Article

Soyupak, O., Soyupak, İ. (2026). An object between furniture and toy: user experiences with learning towers in a Turkish online marketplace. Mobilya ve Ahşap Malzeme Araştırmaları Dergisi, Cilt: 9 Sayı: 1, 17–30. https://doi.org/10.33725/mamad.1825179

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