An interactive nature exploration tool for children, turns outdoor discoveries into exciting adventures.
HOLO merges physical adventures with an interactive app for capturing the wonders of nature and creating personalized creature cards. Transforming exploration into a fun and educational experience, HOLO ignites children's curiosity in an exciting and innovative way.
HOLO
Independent Project - MUSE Design Award (GOLD)
Timeline: March -May 2023 (Two months)
My Role: Industrial Designer, User Researcher, Prototype Developer, Graphic Designer
Tools: Rhino, Keyshot, Figma, 3D Printing, Adobe (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator)
Background Information
Designing for children is not just about creating products; it's about nurturing a sense of wonder, sparking curiosity, and providing enriching experiences that evolve with each stage of their development.
Recognizing the distinct developmental stages, I tailor my creations to cater to the evolving interests and needs of children.
Why design for children?
6-9+
Specific Interests
Hands-on Experiences
10-12+
Scientific Concepts
Environmental Studies
3-5+
Language Development
Motor Exploration Skills
6-9+
Specific Interests
Hands-on Experiences
10-12+
Scientific Concepts
Environmental Studies
3-5+
Language Development
Motor Exploration Skills
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It serves as the ultimate classroom, providing limitless opportunities for discovery and growth. Exploring nature not only instills a sense of wonder but also fosters a deep connection to the environment, promoting both physical and mental well-being.
Nature's allure to children is undeniable.
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HMW Statement
"How might we elevate and capture children's curiosity during nature exploration, seamlessly integrating edutainment to enhance their observational experience?"
Product Features
Design for simplicity, intuitiveness, and visual appeal.
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Start a micro-adventurer by observing
Imagine a sunny afternoon where a child's curiosity is sparked by a vibrant wildflower...
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Explore outdoors and scan nature's wonders.
Upload information to the base station and get new nature cards.
Connect to HOLO App by scanning the QR code on the card.
Learning while collecting,
earn lexicon cards!
Every discovery count! Nature is captured on cards, each with fun facts in our library.
App Features
The HOLO app seamlessly integrates physical exploration with digital learning, providing an engaging platform that educates and entertains children about the wonders of nature.
Welcome to HOLO
Ensure the collection and archiving of children by registering personal information and logging in.
The code link Bluetooth on the charging station is tied through the app to ensure timely upload and update of information.
Collection Navigation
On the homepage, kids can explore different categories collected with HOLO, accessing details as they choose.
In the Category Library, children move to Species classification, exploring a detailed interface.
Engage with Fun Facts
Enjoy lively AR interactions and intriguing information that sparks curiosity.
The detailed videos eliminate the need for children to navigate the cluttered web, providing a seamless learning experience.
Limited Time Events
Provide children with time-limited collection activities according to different locations and time seasons.
Encourage children to explore on their own while supporting certain additional information to ensure safety and fun.
Record collection progress
On the homepage, children can explore their personal profile and track their collection progress. Information about each species can be easily accessed by scanning the QR code on the card.
Additionally, the personal collection page allows users to view details such as collection time, location, and favorite species.
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01. Project Inspiration
A Glimpse into My Childhood World - Microadventure
"As a child, my backyard was a magical realm, each blade of grass hiding potential treasures.
Fueled by curiosity, I embarked on micro-adventures, collecting leaves, shimmering pebbles.
Each find held a mystery, sparking a longing to understand their stories. Reflecting on these adventures, I saw the vast potential for learning within exploration. "
"Exploring cool things like spiky plants is awesome, but explaining them is hard. I don't always find the right words.
How can I share my discoveries when searching online or in books doesn't work with the keywords I describe?"
"We want to instill a sense of responsibility in our child's explorations.
How can we guide them to explore sustainably, ensuring they respect nature and make environmentally conscious choices?"
"Keeping track of my child's collection can be a bit challenging. I've seen their treasures scattered around, and they often forget where they've placed them.
How can we assist them in organizing their collection more effectively?"
02. User Research
Interview & Survey Insights
To gain deeper insights into the needs and challenges children and parents face during microadventures, I utilized a dual approach—surveying 23 participants and conducting individual interviews with parents and children in 3 families.
For children, the exploration process is greatly valued for the sense of wonder and excitement it brings, as well as the opportunity to discover and collect treasures from the natural world. On the other hand, parents often prioritize safety and learning during the exploration process, valuing opportunities for their children to develop a deeper understanding of the environment while ensuring their well-being.
Children seek engaging and interactive learning experiences to fuel their curiosity, while parents prioritize safety, age-appropriateness, and educational value in the products they choose.
In response to these insights, a holistic approach to product development is essential, focusing on creating interactive and educational tools that captivate children's interests while addressing parents' desire for safety, age-appropriateness, and minimal screen time.
User Persona
Creating personas for both the child and the parent allows me to deeply understand their unique needs, preferences, and behaviors. Understanding the motivations and challenges of both children and parents enables me to design products and experiences that resonate with them, ultimately enhancing the overall user experience.
Empathy Map
Creating an Empathy Map for children like Alex allows me to deeply understand his thoughts, feelings, and experiences. By stepping into Alex's shoes and empathizing with his perspective, I can gain valuable insights into his motivations, frustrations, and desires.
03. Concept Development
Interview & Survey Insights
HOLO App offers a streamlined user experience with just four key stops: Profile, Scan, Library, and Favorites. By focusing on these essential domains, users can easily achieve their goals without unnecessary complexity. This clear and intuitive framework enhances information discoverability and accessibility, ensuring an optimized user journey.
Low-fidelity Wireframe
This wireframe provides a glimpse into HOLO's simple, user-centered design and acts as a bridge to HOLO's physical toy set. It offers an intuitive interface for tracking a child's collection progress effectively. Instrumental in the early design phases, this wireframe enables swift iteration and feedback collection before advancing to more intricate design and development stages.
04. Usability Testing
HOLO's user testing provided valuable insights into the usability, functionality, and overall user experience of the application, bridging the connection between the physical product and digital interface.
This feedback will inform improvements to better cater to the needs and expectations of both children and parents.
Scenario:
Users were tasked with simulating the process of scanning a plant using the HOLO Question Mark Collector, uploading the collection data upon returning home, adding it to their digital collection, and receiving a physical card. They were then asked to explore the app, scan the collection card using the scan function, and locate the collection item in their digital library to learn more about it.
Positive Feedbacks
-Users find the process of uploading information and receiving a physical card fulfilling, allowing for efficient collection and a sense of accomplishment
-The intuitive navigation of the app received positive feedback, with users finding it easy to move between different sections
-Users enjoyed the visual design of the app, noting its vibrant and engaging interface that appealed to both children and parents
Suggestions for Improvement
-Adding a holistic filter system to quickly find specific item in the collection list
-Improvements to the categorization options, with users requesting the ability to create custom categories or subcategories to better organize their collections
-Add accessibility features such as the use of voice commands or text-to-speech options to make the app more inclusive and kid-friendly
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05. Reflection
What I Learned
This project has been invaluable in teaching me the art of seamlessly transitioning between roles, embracing responsibilities as both a designer and a user researcher.
The design journey of the HOLO app provided valuable insights into user needs and preferences, with successes and challenges alike.
While the research process uncovered important findings, such as user frustrations and desires, there were limitations in sample size and testing methods. Moving forward, I aim to conduct more comprehensive research and rigorous testing to ensure the product meets diverse user needs.
Despite challenges, this project taught me the significance of empathy-driven design and iterative improvement in creating user-centric experiences.
