EmotQuest is an interactive and educational app that aims to help autistic children develop empathy and emotional intelligence in a fun and engaging way. The project prioritizes creating an immersive and captivating experience for children, where they embark on exciting quests and meet fascinating characters.
Through the game, children learn to recognize and understand different emotions, make empathetic choices, and solve problems to bring harmony to various virtual worlds. They also learn emotional skills that they can utilize in their everyday lives.
I conducted interviews with five individuals to gain a better understanding of my intended users. Among them were two grade-school teachers, two parents of children on the autism spectrum, and one legal guardian of a child on the autism spectrum.
The research revealed that the primary user group is children who could benefit from improving their emotional recognition, empathy, and social-emotional learning skills through a fun and interactive approach. Insights gained from the study helped shape the development of the EmotQuest app, which caters to this user group’s unique needs and developmental stage.
Empathy is a crucial tool in building connections and promoting understanding between people. I hope Sade can come to appreciate the importance of empathy too.
AGE 34 // MBA // Irvine, CA // Marketing Manager
Ola is a working parent, married with two children. His eldest child, Sade, is an 8-year-old girl on the autism spectrum. Ola is tech-savvy and relies on his smartphone for various daily tasks. He prefers using mobile apps due to their convenience and accessibility.
I want to unlock a world of empathy and emotional growth for my son.
AGE 38 // BCA // Houston, TX // Software Engineer
Jin is a working parent, married with three children. His middle child, Jae, is a 9-year-old boy diagnosed with autism. Jin spends a significant amount of time working on his desktop computer and prefers using desktop applications over mobile apps due to his familiarity with them and the larger screen size.
I analyzed different gamified emotional learning apps from four companies, including one indirect competitor and three direct competitors. I evaluated various aspects to see how they would affect my strategic objectives and decision-making.
Based on my research, I identified five critical components that will guide my project's development and help it stand out in the market.
✖ Cross-platform
✔ Clear directions
✖ Personalized
✔ Extra Resources
½ Intuitive
✖ Cross-platform
✖ Clear directions
✖ Personalized
✖ Extra Resources
½ Intuitive
✖ Cross-platform
✔ Clear directions
✖ Personalized
✔ Extra Resources
✔ Intuitive
✔ Cross-platform
✔ Clear directions
✔ Personalized
✔ Extra Resources
✔ Intuitive
After conducting a competitive audit, I discovered some key findings.
Most of my competitors did not make their app cross-platform, while I focused on providing the same mobile experience on Desktop.
Also, none of my direct competitors had personalization, which I believe is essential for a game designed for children. Some competitors also needed more intuitive features since some buttons and icons needed a more apparent purpose.
Moreover, most competitors provided additional resources for children and guardians outside the game, which I feel is a good idea.
By gaining these insights, I can make more informed strategic decisions that allow me to utilize my strengths and improve in areas that need it.
Parents with children on the autism spectrum want to provide their children with a simple and engaging emotional intelligence educational experience because the subject can be challenging to approach effectively.
Using the completed set of digital wireframes, I developed a low-fidelity prototype. The main focus of the prototype was on the user flow for signing up and starting a game, as this would be tested in a detailed usability study.
Through conducting two usability studies, I was able to refine the design process and improve the user experience. These studies provided insight that guided the design from wireframes to high-fidelity prototypes. I could continually optimize the design with a user-centered approach by identifying areas that required further refinement.
I responded to user feedback by including more descriptive language for choices within the game for those children who may need help understanding the options available.
Single word answers.
Added extra keywords.
The 2nd usability study revealed confusion about where a player could start on a campaign. To correct that, I created a visual indication that the player must complete the first quest before moving on to the next.
Each level is visible,
causing confusion on
where to start.
Unplayed levels are now locked.
The final high-fidelity prototype presented an engaging and whimsical flow that makes cultivating emotional intelligence a gamified experience.
I like it! It reminds me of an article on how the Inside Out movie characters helped teach emotions to autistic kids too.
I’d like to add some game elements, such as picking up an item and then later having the option to give that to someone in need.
Integrate text-to-speech.
Add resources for guardians in the prototype.