Innovative Design of Interactive Shadow Puppets for Children Based on STEAM Education Concept

STEAM education has attracted much attention as a comprehensive education method. This educational concept not only promotes interdisciplinary learning and stimulates children’s creativity, but also guides the design of many children’s interactive products. This research focuses on children’s STEAM education, takes traditional Chinese mythology as the theme, and puts forward an innovative proposal for shadow puppet products based on screen interaction technology. Chinese shadow puppet is not only a treasure of Chinese culture, but also recognized as World Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. This is a wonderful combination of STEAM and traditional culture, empowering the vibrant future development of technology and education through innovative means. In order to verify the feasibility of the product details, this study used experiments, questionnaires, observations, etc., inviting 20 children aged 7–12 and multiple design workers to conduct user experiments, and record their usage processes and results. The results obtained are as follows: (1) In terms of the toughness, weight, light transmittance and dyeing effect of the material, cowhide is still the most suitable material for shadow puppet production; (2) The structural complexity has a certain impact on the user control experience, but not the most important factor; (3) In terms of robot vertical movement, 15mm*15mm*1mm square neodymium iron boron magnets are considered the best choice; (4) Projection is currently the most stable, feasible and effective display method. This research provides references and ideas for the design of STEAM educational interactive products, and also provides methods and paths for the activation of Chinese shadow puppet culture and other traditional arts.