The Bugbrush
Designing a Baby Toothbrush
Impact: xxxxx
Brief
To design a baby toothbrush that turns teeth cleaning from a struggle into a fun, stress-free experience for both parents and infants.
Services
Full Product Development, Design for Manufacture
Deliverables
Full Product Development, Design for Manufacture
“Richard has gone above and beyond what he was contracted to do - he has, and continues to be, a huge support to me. Without his skills and knowledge, my product would not be on the shelves, and I am truly thankful to both him and Tim for enabling my dream to become a reality. Anyone that has the opportunity to work with Richard should count themselves very lucky, and grab it with both hands.”
Case Study
The idea for BugBrush began at home. Rowena Johnson, an occupational therapist, was struggling to brush her young daughter Saskia’s teeth. She knew first-hand that early tooth decay is a major problem in children, and she wanted to create a solution that babies would actually enjoy using.
Research to Real-World Design
Rowena had already been working with a leading Professor of Paediatric Dentistry, so we stepped in to interpret their findings and turn them into a manufacturable product. The challenge was to keep all the cleaning effectiveness of a toothbrush while making it as safe, tactile, and engaging as a toy.
Prototyping
Through iterative prototyping, we tested bristle density, material safety, and bite-friendly shapes. The result was a brush with an unmatched 10,000 super-soft bristles, designed to be chewed as well as brushed with. We refined the grip for little hands, kept the form bright and inviting, and ensured it was robust enough to withstand daily gnawing.
Once the design was proven with parents and infants, we engineered it for dependable, cost-effective production. Material selection focused on safety, cleanability, and durability, with a low part count for efficient assembly.
The result
A unique, award-ready product that takes the tears out of toothbrushing, supports oral health from infancy, and stands up to the realities of daily family life.