Starbright
Product Design | Visual Design | Prototype
A mobile app empowering kids and parents to learn English together through engaging, AI-tailored lessons
Role
Product Designer
Timeline
3 months
Tools
Figma
Illustrator
Procreate
Contributions
UX Research
Concept Ideation
Branding
Rapid Prototyping
Project Overview
Starbright is a semester-long capstone project, a mobile app that empowers kids and parents to learn English together. It adapts lessons and progress insights to each childβs pace, keeps learners engaged through playful activities, and gives parents meaningful summaries to stay involved.
About
Design Process
01
UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM
Confronting the Problem
Challenge
Many language learning tools are static and uninspiring. Kids quickly disengage from repetitive lessons, and parents often donβt have tools that help them understand and support their childβs progress.
Starbright addresses these challenges with an experience that adapts to each child and provides tangible progress insight for parents.
02
RESEARCH
Secondary Research
Research Process
To fully understand the scope of the problem, I did a deep dive into the world childrenβs English learning and parental involvement. This section explores my journey of discovery, from user personas to competitive analysis, as I shaped the foundation of the app for an ideal learning platform.
After researching several studies on the correlation between video games and childrenβs literacy levels, the studies have all led to the same conclusion that the games can stimulate their cognitive abilities and early development literacy skills.
Games DO Enhance Literary Skills
Interviews & Surveys
Reviewing Insights
To better understand these challenges, I conducted interviews and surveys with both kids and parents. This revealed a need for engaging learning formats, clarity around progress, and learning experiences that flex with each childβs pace.
What activities do you find the most fun for learning English?
For the Children
What [features] motivate you to learn English?
Progress Tracking
34%
Rewards/Badges
46%
20%
Challenges
What kind of help do you like from your parents when youβre learning English?
Playing games
52%
Reading together
24%
Explaining difficult questions/words
24%
63%
Games
Stories
45%
Videos
30%
Songs
22%
Other
10%
For the Parents
of parents believe that itβs important to be able to track their childrenβs progress
of parents dedicate roughly around 1-2 hours a week to help their children learn English
of parents find that time is their biggest constraint when it comes to supporting their childrenβs learning
Research
Key Insights
Parents wanted more visibility without constant supervision, and children needed more motivation to stay engaged. These insights inspired an adaptive AI layer that learns from each session, adjusting content and recommendations for a more personalized experience.
Progress Visibility π
Providing progress tracking features is essential for parental involvement and support.
Gamification and Engagement πΉοΈ
Children respond positively to gamified elements, indicating the importance of incorporating rewards, games, and activities.
Personalization πΌοΈ
Tailoring lessons to children's interests and learning styles is key for engagement and motivation.
Parental Involvement π©βπ§βπ¦
Supporting parents with tools that fit into their busy schedules and encourage collaborative learning experiences can enhance the app's impact.
Understanding the Market
Competitive Analysis
Key Insights
Opportunities for Improvement
Enhanced Parental Involvement
Provide detailed progress reports, goal-setting features, and at-home activity recommendations for parents
01
Multimodal Learning Approaches
Incorporate a variety of learning modes to cater to different learning styles and enhance retention and engagement
02
Based on the competitive analysis between the existing apps on the market, they shared characteristics that provide a foundation for understanding industry standards and user expectations in English learning platforms.
Comprehensive Content Variety
Offer a wide range of content, including phonics, vocabulary, grammar, reading comprehension, and writing skills
03
By synthesizing these insights, Starbright can differentiate itself from competitors by providing an engaging, comprehensive, and user-friendly English learning platform that actively involves parents and supports children's ongoing development.
03
IDEATION
Wireframes
Low-Res Wireframes
Key Design Choices
Prioritized intuitive navigation and engagement by implementing a bottom navigation bar for easy access to core features, especially for young users.
01
For the quiz flows, introduced visual and audio cues to support varied learning styles and reduce friction.
02
The dashboard was structured to provide clear, parent-friendly overviews without overwhelming detail.
03
The reward system was designed with non-addictive motivation in mind, offering badges and progress tracking instead of points or streaks.
04
04
DESIGN
Visual Identity
Brand Style Guide
Design Solutions
Final High-fidelity Design
Personalized Onboarding
These screens showcase the app's splash screen and onboarding process, introducing personalization through two example questions. By selecting topics of interest, students can tailor their learning experience for a more engaging and focused journey.
The dashboard plays a key role in keeping both parents and students engaged. By visualizing learning milestones and achievements, it empowers users to stay motivated and informed about their educational journey.
Process Insights
Engaging Learning Games
Different game types cater to diverse learning styles, ensuring that each child stays motivated and excited about their progress. A mix of activities helps prevent boredom and enhances the overall learning experience.
This playful animation reinforces positivity by celebrating small wins, boosting the userβs sense of accomplishment. Positive reinforcement like this encourages students to stay motivated and excited about their learning progress
Celebrating Achievements
Daily Challenges
By offering a new task each day, it keeps students engaged, motivates them to return to the app regularly, and helps build a daily learning habit. The challenge fosters a sense of routine and progress, making learning feel dynamic and rewarding.
Additional Key Screens
Personalized Onboarding:
Helps tailor lessons right from the start, reducing frustration and increasing engagement.
Dashboard
Summarizes progress in a way both kids and parents can understand at a glance.
Engaging Games & Rewards
Makes learning feel like play so kids stay motivated.
REFLECTION
Final Thoughts
Reflection
Working on this project allowed me to deepen my understanding of designing for diverse user needs, balancing engaging elements with educational value. The process reinforced the importance of user research and iterative design, showing me how real-world insights can lead to more user-friendly outcomes. I learned the value of balancing aesthetics with functionality and the impact of clear communication in guiding users effectively. These experiences have not only strengthened my design skills but have also prepared me to approach future projects with a more user-centered, adaptable mindset.