Prototype

Helping kids feel connected

PROJECT OVERVIEW

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Kids are very curious but lonelier than ever. There wasn't a way to have fun while getting their questions answered.


I solved this with a humanlike chat app designed to be a companion. It's like if a search engine was a friend, ready to talk anytime you need support.


This pre-dates chatbot interfaces from apps like ChatGPT and Gemini.

MY ROLE

MY ROLE

UI Design

Prototyping

Motion Design

User Research

UI Design

Prototyping

Motion Design

User Research

TEAM

TEAM

UX Designer

DURATION

DURATION

May 2020 – Aug 2020

May 2020 – Aug 2020

Understanding what kids want in a friendship

Understanding what kids want in a friendship

USER PROBLEMS

USER PROBLEMS

  1. "People don't understand me."

  2. "I just moved and I'm all alone."

  3. "Google doesn't always give the answer."

  4. "My friends are too lazy to hang out."

  5. "I need to be told the hard truth."

  6. "I want a friend who evolves with me."

  7. "I want a companion."

  8. "I need consistent and supportive company."

  9. "I need more detail-oriented friends."

  10. "I want to learn a new language but in a fun way."

  11. "Phone calls are easier because of my disability."

  12. "I miss talking on the phone with friends."

People don’t understand me.

I just moved and I’m all alone.

Google doesn’t always give the answer.

My friends are too lazy to hang out.

I need to be told the hard truth.

I want a friend who evolves with me.

I want a companion.

I need consistent and supportive company.

I need more detail-oriented friends.

I want to learn a new language but in a fun way.

Phone calls are easier because of my disability.

I miss talking on the phone with friends.

BUSINESS STRATEGY

BUSINESS STRATEGY

  1. Every person needs a best friend.

  2. That friend should always be there.

  3. They should grow with you.

  4. They should understand your identity.

  1. Every person needs a best friend.

  2. That friend should always be there.

  3. They should grow with you.

  4. They should understand your identity.

Understanding what features users will love

Understanding what features users will love

TARGET USERS

TARGET USERS

As a business, it’s important to appeal to your most likely customers:


  1. People who are looking for companionship.

    1. kids and teens;

    2. social media users;

    3. remote workers;

    4. aging adults


  2. People who frequently use mobile devices.

    1. kids, teens, and young adults


  3. People who enjoy entertainment and pop culture.

    1. artists

    2. gamers

    3. movie-goers

    4. music lovers


  4. People who are lifelong learners.

    1. students;

    2. educators;

    3. travelers


This research helped understand that kids and teens are the most likely to use the app — so it's best to design for them.

As a business, it’s important to appeal to your most likely customers:


  1. People who are looking for companionship.

    1. kids and teens;

    2. social media users;

    3. remote workers;

    4. aging adults


  2. People who frequently use mobile devices.

    1. kids, teens, and young adults


  3. People who enjoy entertainment and pop culture.

    1. artists

    2. gamers

    3. movie-goers

    4. music lovers


  4. People who are lifelong learners.

    1. students;

    2. educators;

    3. travelers


This research helped understand that kids and teens are the most likely to use the app — so it's best to design for them.

An emoji sticker of a game controller
An emoji sticker of a game controller
An emoji sticker of a music note
An emoji sticker of a music note
An emoji sticker of a child
An emoji sticker of a child

COMPETITORS

COMPETITORS

Messaging apps require an engaging design to attract new users instead of the many competitors users could choose from. The app adds high-retention features while using a design consistent with the most used and familiar apps and games in the world to make a great user experience.

ChatGPT
ChatGPT
Google Gemini
Google Gemini
Character.ai

DESIGN OBJECTIVES

DESIGN OBJECTIVES

What's entertaining for kids is different than for adults. Kids want apps to feel a game, with fun characters and exciting stories. After user research, I added features that focused on entertainment for kids:


  1. Easy-to-navigate interface

  2. Customizable avatar with outfits

  3. Colorful and engaging visuals

  4. Flashy animations

  5. Social interaction

  6. Collectible items

  7. Fun mini games

  8. Music and sound effects

What's entertaining for kids is different than for adults. Kids want apps to feel a game, with fun characters and exciting stories. After user research, I added features that focused on entertainment for kids:


  1. Easy-to-navigate interface

  2. Customizable avatar with outfits

  3. Colorful and engaging visuals

  4. Flashy animations

  5. Social interaction

  6. Collectible items

  7. Fun mini games

  8. Music and sound effects

IDEAL SOLUTION

IDEAL SOLUTION

Hey Logan proposes using a multimodal machine learning model to help users build a relationship with a digital companion. A conversational design will be used to make an engaging and human-centered experience.

Wireframing helped share a vision with stakeholders

Wireframing helped share a vision with stakeholders

Initial Mockups: Collaborated with stakeholders to prioritize features to include, define user flows, and create a familiar visual design.

Initial Mockups: Collaborated with stakeholders to prioritize features to include, define user flows, and create a familiar visual design.

Prototyping high-quality mockups helped get feedback from stakeholders

Prototyping high-quality mockups helped get feedback from stakeholders

Theme: Pick any color (in hindsight, orange is very bright).

Theme: Pick any color (in hindsight, orange is very bright).

Chat: Send anything — text, audio, and media.

Chat: Send anything — text, audio, and media.

Camera: Share instant photos and video.

Camera: Share instant photos and video.

Photos: See memories from the past.

Photos: See memories from the past.

Fullscreen: More chats at once, search easier.

Fullscreen: More chats at once, search easier.

Video chat: Phone call with audio and video.

Video chat: Phone call with audio and video.

Live: Watch and comment together.

Live: Watch and comment together.

Settings: Manage your profile and account.

Settings: Manage your profile and account.

Quick Chat: Chat from anywhere in the app.

Quick Chat: Chat from anywhere in the app.

Usability testing and validation helped ensure a higher quality product

Usability testing and validation helped ensure a higher quality product

Over 20 users aged 13–to-17 have tested Hey Logan. Participants are given a series of tasks to complete within the app, such as sending a message, sharing a video, browsing images, and customizing their profile. Participants are instructed to use the think-aloud protocol while completing the tasks. The feedback helped refine the product to be more accessible and universally inclusive. User issues often go unnoticed unless actual users are observed and talked to.

Results

Results

The chat app reached its goal of designing an engaging product that kids would find entertaining and enjoyable to use. I learned how to create a consistent style guide that leaves a lasting impression. The product is flexible and customizable for its users.

Hey Logan app

Prototype

Hey Logan

AI chat for kids

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Hey Logan

AI chat for kids

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