GAKKI
A hands-on digital music instrument designed to introduce children to composition through play. By combining tactile controls with flexible digital sound-making, Gakki explores how a music tool can grow with its user — from early experimentation to more advanced creative work.
SCOPE
Industrial Design
UX/UI Design
TIMELINE
Winter 2025
Ten Weeks
STUDIO SPONSOR
Tactile Inc.
GAKKI
A hands-on digital music instrument designed to introduce children to composition through play. By combining tactile controls with flexible digital sound-making, Gakki explores how a music tool can grow with its user — from early experimentation to more advanced creative work.
SCOPE
Industrial Design
UX/UI Design
TIMELINE
Winter 2025
Ten Weeks
STUDIO SPONSOR
Tactile Inc.
GAKKI
A hands-on digital music instrument designed to introduce children to composition through play. By combining tactile controls with flexible digital sound-making, Gakki explores how a music tool can grow with its user — from early experimentation to more advanced creative work.
SCOPE
Industrial Design
UX/UI Design
TIMELINE
Winter 2025
Ten Weeks
STUDIO SPONSOR
Tactile Inc.
SCREENS LOWER BARRIERS TO MUSIC COMPOSITION
As digital music tools lower the barrier to creation, more young users are engaging in composition—drawn to the ability to layer, loop, edit, and experiment without years of technical training. However, this accessibility is often mediated entirely through screens.
PURELY DIGITAL TOOLS ARE LIMITED
While software-based music tools make composition more accessible, working entirely on a screen removes tactile feedback and physical interaction.
A GAP BETWEEN PLAY AND PROFESSIONAL TOOLS
Entry-level music products prioritize playfulness and accessibility, but are often outgrown as users seek greater creative depth. Professional tools, by contrast, offer extensive control and flexibility, yet rely on dense visual language and complex workflows that can feel intimidating or inaccessible to emerging users.
SCREENS LOWER BARRIERS TO MUSIC COMPOSITION
As digital music tools lower the barrier to creation, more young users are engaging in composition—drawn to the ability to layer, loop, edit, and experiment without years of technical training. However, this accessibility is often mediated entirely through screens.
PURELY DIGITAL TOOLS ARE LIMITED
While software-based music tools make composition more accessible, working entirely on a screen removes tactile feedback and physical interaction.
A GAP BETWEEN PLAY AND PROFESSIONAL TOOLS
Entry-level music products prioritize playfulness and accessibility, but are often outgrown as users seek greater creative depth. Professional tools, by contrast, offer extensive control and flexibility, yet rely on dense visual language and complex workflows that can feel intimidating or inaccessible to emerging users.
SCREENS LOWER BARRIERS TO MUSIC COMPOSITION
As digital music tools lower the barrier to creation, more young users are engaging in composition—drawn to the ability to layer, loop, edit, and experiment without years of technical training. However, this accessibility is often mediated entirely through screens.
PURELY DIGITAL TOOLS ARE LIMITED
While software-based music tools make composition more accessible, working entirely on a screen removes tactile feedback and physical interaction.
A GAP BETWEEN PLAY AND PROFESSIONAL TOOLS
Entry-level music products prioritize playfulness and accessibility, but are often outgrown as users seek greater creative depth. Professional tools, by contrast, offer extensive control and flexibility, yet rely on dense visual language and complex workflows that can feel intimidating or inaccessible to emerging users.
THE GOAL
Develop a hands-on music-making device that supports digital composition through play, experimentation, and physical interaction.
CRITERIA
Support a clear progression from open-ended play to structured music-making.
Encourage spontaneous exploration through intuitive yet tactile interactions.
Help users feel agency and ownership by making music that feels real and expressive.
THE GOAL
Develop a hands-on music-making device that helps children explore digital composition through play, experimentation, and physical interaction.
CRITERIA
Support a clear progression from open-ended play to structured music-making.
Encourage spontaneous exploration through intuitive yet tactile interactions.
Help users feel agency and ownership by making music that feels real and expressive.
THE GOAL
Develop a hands-on music-making device that supports digital composition through play, experimentation, and physical interaction.
CRITERIA
Support a clear progression from open-ended play to structured music-making.
Encourage spontaneous exploration through intuitive yet tactile interactions.
Help users feel agency and ownership by making music that feels real and expressive.
PLAYFUL. EXPRESSIVE. INTENTIONAL.
Gakki should be playful, not childish. Expressive, not noisy.
EARLY CONCEPT DIRECTIONS
TURNING POINT
Early exploration focused on a DJ-style modular instrument. Testing revealed that the number of components lacked hierarchy, making the system overwhelming. This insight shifted the design toward a more structured interface with integrated visual guidance to support learning.
WHY A MIDI KEYBOARD CONTROLLER?
A MIDI keyboard condenses multiple instruments into a single, structured interface. Its familiar piano-key layout creates hierarchy, giving users a clear entry point for playing and learning.
PLAYFUL. EXPRESSIVE. INTENTIONAL.
Gakki should be playful, not childish. Expressive, not noisy.
EARLY CONCEPT DIRECTIONS
TURNING POINT
Early exploration focused on a DJ-style modular instrument. Testing revealed that the number of components lacked hierarchy, making the system overwhelming. This insight shifted the design toward a more structured interface with integrated visual guidance to support learning.
WHY A MIDI KEYBOARD CONTROLLER?
A MIDI keyboard condenses multiple instruments into a single, structured interface. Its familiar piano-key layout creates hierarchy, giving users a clear entry point for playing and learning.
PLAYFUL. EXPRESSIVE. INTENTIONAL.
Gakki should be playful, not childish. Expressive, not noisy.
EARLY CONCEPT DIRECTIONS
TURNING POINT
Early exploration focused on a DJ-style modular instrument. Testing revealed that the number of components lacked hierarchy, making the system overwhelming. This insight shifted the design toward a more structured interface with integrated visual guidance to support learning.
WHY A MIDI KEYBOARD CONTROLLER?
A MIDI keyboard condenses multiple instruments into a single, structured interface. Its familiar piano-key layout creates hierarchy, giving users a clear entry point for playing and learning.
FROM STRUCTURE TO GUIDANCE
While the keyboard introduced structure, users still needed guidance as they learned to compose. This revealed the need for feedback and direction to support the transition from experimentation to intentional music-making.
TESTING PART SIZES AND ERGONOMICS
FORM DEVELOPMENT
FROM STRUCTURE TO GUIDANCE
While the keyboard introduced structure, users still needed guidance as they learned to compose. This revealed the need for a system that could provide feedback, direction, and a clearer path from experimentation to intentional music-making.
TESTING PART SIZES AND ERGONOMICS
FORM DEVELOPMENT
FROM STRUCTURE TO GUIDANCE
While the keyboard introduced structure, users still needed guidance as they learned to compose. This revealed the need for feedback and direction to support the transition from experimentation to intentional music-making.
TESTING PART SIZES AND ERGONOMICS
FORM DEVELOPMENT
FLIP-UP SCREEN
The tilting screen accommodates different postures and setups, keeping information legible while playing and learning.
JOYSTICK NAVIGATION
A central joystick enables tactile navigation through modes and settings, providing physical feedback.
LESSONS WITH GAKKI
Gakki features a learning mode where users can explore composition and different instruments at their own pace.
LED GUIDES
Guided LEDs introduce composition through sequence and timing, helping users learn by following visual cues.
EVOLVES INTO FUNCTIONAL MUSIC TOOL
As users transition into more advanced composition, Gakki evolves into a digital audio workstation equipped with multiple ports for integration with professional equipment.
FLIP-UP SCREEN
The tilting screen accommodates different postures and setups, keeping information legible while playing and learning.
JOYSTICK NAVIGATION
A central joystick enables tactile navigation through modes and settings, providing physical feedback.
LESSONS WITH GAKKI
Gakki features a learning mode where users can explore composition and different instruments at their own pace.
LED GUIDES
Guided LEDs introduce composition through sequence and timing, helping users learn by following visual cues.
EVOLVES INTO FUNCTIONAL MUSIC TOOL
As users transition into more advanced composition, Gakki evolves into a digital audio workstation equipped with multiple ports for integration with professional equipment.
©2026 MRMD
©2026 MRMD
©2026 MRMD