The Happy Paws Project originated with the Teddy Bear Experiment, an ongoing study exploring children’s user experience in clinical settings. The experiment focuses on how children interact with assistive technologies like orthotics. In this study, children are given a plush teddy bear that undergoes the same medical procedures as they do, such as being fitted for orthotics. The bear mirrors the child's experience, providing a relatable and less intimidating way to understand the procedure.
Throughout the casting and fitting appointments, both the child and the bear receive orthotics, and the child's reactions are observed. This playful approach aims to reduce the anxiety associated with medical visits, while also encouraging greater engagement with assistive devices. The experiment later evolved into the Maple's storybook series, where a teddy bear character named Maple helps children become more comfortable with medical settings and equipment, using storytelling to further enhance user-centered design in pediatric care.