The Challenge
The goal was to create a game that immersed children in diverse habitats, teaching them about global ecosystems while blending education with fun. The challenge? Designing for a novel device with unique interaction patterns, ensuring intuitive usability for young users, and staying true to National Geographic’s iconic brand identity.
Though the game was ultimately shelved due to the discontinuation of the Amazon Glow, the project was an exciting opportunity to push creative boundaries and design for emerging technology.
Edutainment for Amazon Glow
Immersive Learning for Kids through National Geographic
The Amazon Glow was an innovative device designed to bridge the gap between remote families, combining video calling with interactive learning and play for children. Our team partnered with Amazon to create a Disney-themed content experience, and I spearheaded the design of an edutainment game for National Geographic.
My Role
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Mapped out user flows to structure gameplay and storyline, ensuring an engaging and logical progression for players.
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Worked closely with Amazon developers twice a week to review beta builds and provide feedback on UI structure, user flow, and gameplay functionality.
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Crafted the visual branding based on National Geographic’s brand guidelines, working with their team for asset approvals.
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Expanded the game’s content database with a large collection of animal and landscape assets to address replayability challenges.
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Provided detailed notes on UI elements, from the look and feel down to specific hex codes, ensuring visual consistency.
Mapping out gameplay
Process & Approach
1. Understanding the Audience
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Designed for children aged 5-12 and their relatives, focusing on shared activities that went beyond standard video calls.
2. Creating the Gameplay Experience
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Developed user flows that mapped out how kids would interact with the game—from exploring habitats to collecting facts and assisting virtual scientists.
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Collaborated on the storyline, ensuring it encouraged curiosity and exploration while seamlessly integrating educational content.
3. Collaboration with Developers
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Reviewed beta builds regularly and provided actionable feedback on game mechanics, UI structure, and visual elements.
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Worked closely with Amazon developers to address constraints and refine how users interacted with Glow’s unique projection technology and tactile mat interface.
4. Visual Branding
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Designed the game’s visual elements in alignment with National Geographic’s guidelines, blending their iconic aesthetic with a kid-friendly tone.
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Ensured all visual assets—from animations to icons—enhanced the game’s immersive and educational quality.
5. Addressing Replayability
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Tackled replayability by expanding the database of facts, images, and animations, ensuring kids encountered new content with each playthrough.
6. Usability Testing
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Conducted internal demos and user testing to observe how players navigated the game and interacted with the tactile mat interface.
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Used findings to refine the flow of gameplay and gestures, ensuring the experience felt natural and engaging on a device few had used before.
Homescreen
Demo testing
Outcome
Although the game didn’t launch due to the discontinuation of the Amazon Glow, the project demonstrated:
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The ability to design for emerging technology and novel interaction methods.
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A creative approach to solving replayability challenges in educational games.
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A collaborative process that successfully balanced brand fidelity, usability, and innovation.
Reflections
This project was a rewarding challenge that pushed the boundaries of design for kids’ education and entertainment. It reinforced my ability to adapt to emerging technology, craft meaningful user flows, and collaborate with developers to create a cohesive, engaging experience. While the game didn’t make it to the market, the process was a testament to the potential of edutainment to connect and inspire young learners.