Overview
This project was made for our junior studio innovation class. We were tasked with picking a dying business and through design and small scaled innovation we create a new design. Helping National Geo graphic reach a wider audience, Geojoy offers a hands-on and interactive experience that goes beyond traditional subscription boxes by using your smart T.V. and augmented reality to facilitate meaningful familial interaction. With Joy, the AI learning assistant will direct the activity and answer all their questions along the way, parents can focus on enjoying the activity and bonding with their kids.
My Role
UX/UI Designer: I worked on the wireframes, interaction, UI interface, ideation, and research.
Teammates
Madeline Bay, Andrew Botkin, Addison Cruver, Sana Baid, Macy McCarthy
Tools
Figma, Figjam, Illustrator, Rhino, After Effects
A glimpse into our research process
Determining our target audience and strategy
Based on our secondary research (competitive analysis and audit of nat geo’s current products), we found that nat geo has a lack of kids products even though much of their content can be geared towards children. There was significant opportunity for growth for nat geo in their family and educational content.
Empathizing with 6 different families
Now that we narrowed down our target audience based on competitive and business analysis, it was time to move onto primary research. Our interviews aimed to uncover what drives children's enthusiasm for learning and to identify challenges parents face with traditional media and activity planning. We strived to discover new ways to create engaging, collaborative learning experiences by pinpointing these motivations and the activities families and children enjoyed most.
STEP 1
Key Insights
Affordability is key
In many cases, parents prefer low-cost activities.
Shared Activities are Challenging but Valuable
It can be hard for a parent to find an activity that the whole family can enjoy and get everyone to work together. They mention that they must draw on all interests of their kids to make the activities enjoyable for all. Despite these challenges, everyone agreed that group activities were most fulfilling.
Uniting School and Fun
Parents prefer to tailor activities in relation to what their child is learning in school.
Achieve Small Goals Together for Maximum Fun
Whether it's solving a puzzle, cooking a meal, or tackling a DIY project, these activities foster teamwork, enhance communication, and create lasting bonds. By focusing on achievable objectives, families stay engaged, motivated, and connected, making the time spent together more enjoyable.
HOW MIGHT WE STATEMENT
How might we create engaging family learning experiences that excite kids, while being mindful of cost, educational value, and individual interests?
Ideation
Idea prioritization and landing on our final idea
When brainstorming for our concept we thought about the wants, needs, and pain points of our users. After a few hours of whiteboarding exercises and brainstorming sessions, we landed on the idea of an personalized and interactive subscription box because it satisfied the highest number of wants and needs from our research. From this we sketched out a lo-fi experience shown down below.
Affordable
Educational
Personalized
Goal-oriented
Interactive shared activity
Fun for all parties involved!
Stress-free planning and guidance
Boring educational content
Lo-fi flow of experience
From streamlining the journey above, we imagined a personalized onboarding process that leads to an interactive and gamified subscription box experience the family can enjoy every month. We imagined this experience to be integrated in common everyday technology with a hands-on experience the whole family contributes to in their own way.
Validating idea with second round of competitive analysis
Although there is a pleothra of subscription boxes and games, we found our idea to be a unique combination of physical and digital worlds as well as education and entertainment.. This gave us a unique edge in a competitive market, we couldn’t wait to start designing.
Creating simple wireframes of our activity
We started with lo-fi to immediately test with parents and families.
Usability Testing Wireframes
This phase of testing with parents, all aimed at validating our concept, see what they liked, where we could improve thus pinpointing the most crucial features needed to enhance the parent and child experiences.
AHA MOMENT
“Having mobile is nice, but TV would be a lot better to include everyone in the activity”
Great idea! We assumed users would like mobile to be able to do these activities anywhere. However our test participants we keen on the idea of using smart TVs as lots of the media and games their children consume are on tvs! If families can watch a movie together, why not learn and complete a nat geo box too?
User Testing our concept, let's complete a subscription box with some families!
Once we got our wireframes to mid-fi we wanted to test our overall concept as soon as possible to make sure we were going in the right direction.
AHA MOMENT
Kids are naturally curious and ask a lot of questions during activities, often stumping even their parents...introducing GeoJoy
During our planned box activity, kids asked a lot of questions. To address this, we've introduced GeoJoy, the AI assistant designed to answer their questions. GeoJoy provides instant, accurate responses, ensuring kids stay engaged. This feature not only enhances the learning experience but also alleviates the pressure on parents to have all the answers!
The GeoJoy Experience
Parent fills out onboarding so Geojoy can create a personalized experience
Monthly Subscription box arrives
Parent scans QR code and connects to smart TV
Gathers family and starts activity!
Family does interactive activity that is designed for educational fun that the whole family can enjoy
Connect, learn, and have fun together
Tailored content, to more than just interests for every family member but school curriculum
During onboarding, input all your children’s curriculum and forget about the rest. Geojoy will tailor content to what your children are currently learning in school.
Answer your child’s questions with the help of Geo Joy
An AI chatbot trained to speak the language of kids when answering questions during the activity. She can respond with text or visuals.
Seamless completion with step-by-step instructions and delegation of roles
For the parents, we wanted to reduce cognitive load by breaking the steps down, and for the family, delegating roles, prompting activities, and showing content as they go to get the kids excited and feel motivated as they complete mission and goals as a family
Interact beyond a phone screen
In my experience, the best solutions emerge from tackling real user needs, not just pursuing novelty. In this project, we initially brainstormed around a "cool" concept, but we later had to adapt it to address user pain points—taking a reverse approach. Although it was a fun project to work on, if I could go back I would plan it with more focus on user needs!
Reflection
Prioritize solving user pain points instead of trying to create the most unique or "creative" idea from the start
In my experience, the best solutions emerge from tackling real user needs, not just pursuing novelty. In this project, we initially brainstormed around a "cool" concept, but we later had to adapt it to address user pain points—taking a reverse approach. Although it was a fun project to work on, if I could go back I would plan it with more focus on user needs!
Overview
This project was made for our junior studio innovation class. We were tasked with picking a dying business and through design and small scaled innovation we create a new design. Helping National Geo graphic reach a wider audience, Geojoy offers a hands-on and interactive experience that goes beyond traditional subscription boxes by using your smart T.V. and augmented reality to facilitate meaningful familial interaction. With Joy, the AI learning assistant will direct the activity and answer all their questions along the way, parents can focus on enjoying the activity and bonding with their kids.
My Role
UX/UI Designer: I worked on the wireframes, interaction, UI interface, ideation, and research.
Teammates
Madeline Bay, Andrew Botkin, Addison Cruver, Sana Baid, Macy McCarthy
Tools
Figma, Figjam, Illustrator, Rhino, After Effects
Overview
This project was made for our junior studio innovation class. We were tasked with picking a dying business and through design and small scaled innovation we create a new design. Helping National Geo graphic reach a wider audience, Geojoy offers a hands-on and interactive experience that goes beyond traditional subscription boxes by using your smart T.V. and augmented reality to facilitate meaningful familial interaction. With Joy, the AI learning assistant will direct the activity and answer all their questions along the way, parents can focus on enjoying the activity and bonding with their kids.
My Role
UX/UI Designer: I worked on the wireframes, interaction, UI interface, ideation, and research.
Teammates
Madeline Bay, Andrew Botkin, Addison Cruver, Sana Baid, Macy McCarthy
Tools
Figma, Figjam, Illustrator, Rhino, After Effects
A glimpse into our research process
A glimpse into our research process
Determining our target audience and strategy
Based on our secondary research (competitive analysis and audit of nat geo’s current products), we found that nat geo has a lack of kids products even though much of their content can be geared towards children. There was significant opportunity for growth for nat geo in their family and educational content.
Determining our target audience and strategy
Based on our secondary research (competitive analysis and audit of nat geo’s current products), we found that nat geo has a lack of kids products even though much of their content can be geared towards children. There was significant opportunity for growth for nat geo in their family and educational content.
Empathizing with 6 different families
Now that we narrowed down our target audience based on competitive and business analysis, it was time to move onto primary research. Our interviews aimed to uncover what drives children's enthusiasm for learning and to identify challenges parents face with traditional media and activity planning. We strived to discover new ways to create engaging, collaborative learning experiences by pinpointing these motivations and the activities families and children enjoyed most.
Empathizing with 6 different families
Now that we narrowed down our target audience based on competitive and business analysis, it was time to move onto primary research. Our interviews aimed to uncover what drives children's enthusiasm for learning and to identify challenges parents face with traditional media and activity planning. We strived to discover new ways to create engaging, collaborative learning experiences by pinpointing these motivations and the activities families and children enjoyed most.
STEP 1
Key Insights
Affordability is key
In many cases, parents prefer low-cost activities.
Shared Activities are Challenging but Valuable
It can be hard for a parent to find an activity that the whole family can enjoy and get everyone to work together. They mention that they must draw on all interests of their kids to make the activities enjoyable for all. Despite these challenges, everyone agreed that group activities were most fulfilling.
Uniting School and Fun
Parents prefer to tailor activities in relation to what their child is learning in school.
Achieve Small Goals Together for Maximum Fun
Whether it's solving a puzzle, cooking a meal, or tackling a DIY project, these activities foster teamwork, enhance communication, and create lasting bonds. By focusing on achievable objectives, families stay engaged, motivated, and connected, making the time spent together more enjoyable.
STEP 1
Key Insights
Affordability is key
In many cases, parents prefer low-cost activities.
Shared Activities are Challenging but Valuable
It can be hard for a parent to find an activity that the whole family can enjoy and get everyone to work together. They mention that they must draw on all interests of their kids to make the activities enjoyable for all. Despite these challenges, everyone agreed that group activities were most fulfilling.
Uniting School and Fun
Parents prefer to tailor activities in relation to what their child is learning in school.
Achieve Small Goals Together for Maximum Fun
Whether it's solving a puzzle, cooking a meal, or tackling a DIY project, these activities foster teamwork, enhance communication, and create lasting bonds. By focusing on achievable objectives, families stay engaged, motivated, and connected, making the time spent together more enjoyable.
HOW MIGHT WE STATEMENT
How might we create engaging family learning experiences that excite kids, while being mindful of cost, educational value, and individual interests?
HOW MIGHT WE STATEMENT
How might we create engaging family learning experiences that excite kids, while being mindful of cost, educational value, and individual interests?
Ideation
Ideation
Idea prioritization and landing on our final idea
When brainstorming for our concept we thought about the wants, needs, and pain points of our users. After a few hours of whiteboarding exercises and brainstorming sessions, we landed on the idea of an personalized and interactive subscription box because it satisfied the highest number of wants and needs from our research. From this we sketched out a lo-fi experience shown down below.
Idea prioritization and landing on our final idea
When brainstorming for our concept we thought about the wants, needs, and pain points of our users. After a few hours of whiteboarding exercises and brainstorming sessions, we landed on the idea of an personalized and interactive subscription box because it satisfied the highest number of wants and needs from our research. From this we sketched out a lo-fi experience shown down below.
Affordable
Educational
Personalized
Goal-oriented
Interactive shared activity
Fun for all parties involved!
Stress-free planning and guidance
Boring educational content
Affordable
Educational
Personalized
Goal-oriented
Interactive shared activity
Fun for all parties involved!
Stress-free planning and guidance
Boring educational content
Lo-fi flow of experience
From streamlining the journey above, we imagined a personalized onboarding process that leads to an interactive and gamified subscription box experience the family can enjoy every month. We imagined this experience to be integrated in common everyday technology with a hands-on experience the whole family contributes to in their own way.
Lo-fi flow of experience
From streamlining the journey above, we imagined a personalized onboarding process that leads to an interactive and gamified subscription box experience the family can enjoy every month. We imagined this experience to be integrated in common everyday technology with a hands-on experience the whole family contributes to in their own way.
Validating idea with second round of competitive analysis
Although there is a pleothra of subscription boxes and games, we found our idea to be a unique combination of physical and digital worlds as well as education and entertainment.. This gave us a unique edge in a competitive market, we couldn’t wait to start designing.
Validating idea with second round of competitive analysis
Although there is a pleothra of subscription boxes and games, we found our idea to be a unique combination of physical and digital worlds as well as education and entertainment.. This gave us a unique edge in a competitive market, we couldn’t wait to start designing.
Creating simple wireframes of our activity
We started with lo-fi to immediately test with parents and families.
Creating simple wireframes of our activity
We started with lo-fi to immediately test with parents and families.
Usability Testing Wireframes
This phase of testing with parents, all aimed at validating our concept, see what they liked, where we could improve thus pinpointing the most crucial features needed to enhance the parent and child experiences.
Usability Testing Wireframes
This phase of testing with parents, all aimed at validating our concept, see what they liked, where we could improve thus pinpointing the most crucial features needed to enhance the parent and child experiences.
AHA MOMENT
“Having mobile is nice, but TV would be a lot better to include everyone in the activity”
Great idea! We assumed users would like mobile to be able to do these activities anywhere. However our test participants we keen on the idea of using smart TVs as lots of the media and games their children consume are on tvs! If families can watch a movie together, why not learn and complete a nat geo box too?
AHA MOMENT
“Having mobile is nice, but TV would be a lot better to include everyone in the activity”
Great idea! We assumed users would like mobile to be able to do these activities anywhere. However our test participants we keen on the idea of using smart TVs as lots of the media and games their children consume are on tvs! If families can watch a movie together, why not learn and complete a nat geo box too?
User Testing our concept, let's complete a subscription box with some families!
Once we got our wireframes to mid-fi we wanted to test our overall concept as soon as possible to make sure we were going in the right direction.
User Testing our concept, let's complete a subscription box with some families!
Once we got our wireframes to mid-fi we wanted to test our overall concept as soon as possible to make sure we were going in the right direction.
AHA MOMENT
Kids are naturally curious and ask a lot of questions during activities, often stumping even their parents...introducing GeoJoy
During our planned box activity, kids asked a lot of questions. To address this, we've introduced GeoJoy, the AI assistant designed to answer their questions. GeoJoy provides instant, accurate responses, ensuring kids stay engaged. This feature not only enhances the learning experience but also alleviates the pressure on parents to have all the answers!
AHA MOMENT
Kids are naturally curious and ask a lot of questions during activities, often stumping even their parents...introducing GeoJoy
During our planned box activity, kids asked a lot of questions. To address this, we've introduced GeoJoy, the AI assistant designed to answer their questions. GeoJoy provides instant, accurate responses, ensuring kids stay engaged. This feature not only enhances the learning experience but also alleviates the pressure on parents to have all the answers!
The GeoJoy Experience
The GeoJoy Experience
Parent fills out onboarding so Geojoy can create a personalized experience
Monthly Subscription box arrives
Parent scans QR code and connects to smart TV
Gathers family and starts activity!
Family does interactive activity that is designed for educational fun that the whole family can enjoy
Parent fills out onboarding so Geojoy can create a personalized experience
Monthly Subscription box arrives
Parent scans QR code and connects to smart TV
Gathers family and starts activity!
Family does interactive activity that is designed for educational fun that the whole family can enjoy
Connect, learn, and have fun together
Connect, learn, and have fun together
Tailored content, to more than just interests for every family member but school curriculum
During onboarding, input all your children’s curriculum and forget about the rest. Geojoy will tailor content to what your children are currently learning in school.
Tailored content, to more than just interests for every family member but school curriculum
During onboarding, input all your children’s curriculum and forget about the rest. Geojoy will tailor content to what your children are currently learning in school.
Answer your child’s questions with the help of Geo Joy
An AI chatbot trained to speak the language of kids when answering questions during the activity. She can respond with text or visuals.
Answer your child’s questions with the help of Geo Joy
An AI chatbot trained to speak the language of kids when answering questions during the activity. She can respond with text or visuals.
Seamless completion with step-by-step instructions and delegation of roles
For the parents, we wanted to reduce cognitive load by breaking the steps down, and for the family, delegating roles, prompting activities, and showing content as they go to get the kids excited and feel motivated as they complete mission and goals as a family
Seamless completion with step-by-step instructions and delegation of roles
For the parents, we wanted to reduce cognitive load by breaking the steps down, and for the family, delegating roles, prompting activities, and showing content as they go to get the kids excited and feel motivated as they complete mission and goals as a family
Interact beyond a phone screen
In my experience, the best solutions emerge from tackling real user needs, not just pursuing novelty. In this project, we initially brainstormed around a "cool" concept, but we later had to adapt it to address user pain points—taking a reverse approach. Although it was a fun project to work on, if I could go back I would plan it with more focus on user needs!
Interact beyond a phone screen
In my experience, the best solutions emerge from tackling real user needs, not just pursuing novelty. In this project, we initially brainstormed around a "cool" concept, but we later had to adapt it to address user pain points—taking a reverse approach. Although it was a fun project to work on, if I could go back I would plan it with more focus on user needs!
Reflection
Prioritize solving user pain points instead of trying to create the most unique or "creative" idea from the start
In my experience, the best solutions emerge from tackling real user needs, not just pursuing novelty. In this project, we initially brainstormed around a "cool" concept, but we later had to adapt it to address user pain points—taking a reverse approach. Although it was a fun project to work on, if I could go back I would plan it with more focus on user needs!
Reflection
Prioritize solving user pain points instead of trying to create the most unique or "creative" idea from the start
In my experience, the best solutions emerge from tackling real user needs, not just pursuing novelty. In this project, we initially brainstormed around a "cool" concept, but we later had to adapt it to address user pain points—taking a reverse approach. Although it was a fun project to work on, if I could go back I would plan it with more focus on user needs!