Hippopappa
An advanced generation augmented reality toy for kids ( Activity boxes + AR App)
Goal
Developed an AR app to revolutionize the learning experience suitable for kids from age 4-10.
My Role
UX Research
Packaging Design
Branding Identity
Product Design
Animations -2D
Character Design
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Duration
36 Weeks
3 versions
Year - Nov 2019 to July 2020
Overview
An advanced generation needn’t be limited to traditional learning experience. So here is a educational app called Hippopappa.
We planned to roll out a best educational app exposure for kids through Augmented Reality for which we decided to provide it with high standard content with minimal cost.
Firstly, we initiated a basic augmented reality activity box (like a puzzle based activity) app that being received good response of kids and parents. With this energetic response, we stepped on to second phase which is of different set of activity boxes with maths to be explored with one main character called hippopappa among different characters to enthusiast kids learning exposure and make them feel like fun learning. Our targeted kids categories are Gen alpha kids that are tech-savvy and have access to smart phones, unlike previous generations. The prospect of bringing an object to life fascinated and thrilled us. They can easily relate what they learn to what they experience in their mind. It will be very useful when they grow up as maestro. lastly, we planned to kickstart our hippopappa project with different set of phases. The app named hippopappa will induce kids to feel as a learning companion related to her stories filled with exploration after which first phase have been named Math Maestro Series is of three different set of activity boxes like Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 with AR App. After completion of all three levels children will get math maestro certification and a memento.
Market Gap Analysis
As of parents, School closure demands taking time off to care for kids especially jobs that do not offer paid time off. However, As this is a imperative scenario, people has to land up on the same page with kids that let them not put off their learning phase.
In light of covid-19 shutdown, all of us would have had same question as to how to engage children who are bubbling with energy but could not go out and play and at the same time screen time must be more productive and educational?
Does this solution really Work?
By solving concerns of parents, we ensured their kids go from passive listeners to active participants.
Augumented Reality (AR) has captivated the entire world by storm. These toys are interactive, educational, and entertaining as well. However what does it mean for us as parents?
By Tactical play and digital story telling, AR toys bring together the best of both worlds. AR toys is of various digital elements such as audio, video, images and 3D content to be merged with physical components thereby, making learning a unique and inclusive process.
The AR technology also helps child interact with the world around them and creates two-way interactivity where the child feels to have control over what they are learning.
Moreover, AR creates a system of instant feedback that motivates child to learn more, to be more accurate and also we provide a progress report or graph, which is a personalized evaluation of your child's learning curve and progress. This report can be monitored and tracked from time-to-time.
Competitor Analysis
Playshifu is our direct competitor in the market.
They have rolled out only a story telling STEM AR Toys whereas, Smartivity is a purely based on DIY STEM toys, Flintobox is a DIY and full educational Material. In this case, I planned to analyse these three different brands as to how they strategize themselves in the toy market.
After analysis, It was found that some interesting key gaps to push our product as market leader in the market. The major unique selling proposition (USP) of our product is Price range, App Content Structure
& Audio Quality , Language accent and need DIY in the app.
User Research and Survey
We interviewed some 10-15 parents in person and also organized a digital campaign in social media, got an unexpected result of parents with various aspects of thought and got 124 form submissions.
How old is your child?
Have you ever bought any other AR Toys in the market? what is the price range?
What price do you expect for AR Toys?
3 - 4 Years
5- 7 years
Above 2000rs
Above 1500rs
Below 500rs
Above 1500rs
7-10years
Above 10 years
Over 124 people in 2019
53
24
18
29
Below 500rs
Over 124 people in 2019
84
8
32
Above 2000rs
Never going to spend
Over 124 people in 2019
73
12
6
33
How many hours did you let your kids use the mobile?
Did you know or hear about augmented reality?
As a parent do you want to give a productive screen time to your kid?
1Hour -2Hour /per day
3Hour -5Hour /per day
Full day
Never Allow
Over 124 people
52
21
13
38
Over 124 people in 2019
100
80
78
60
40
46
20
People who don't
know about AR
People know
about AR
102
Over 124 people in 2019
100
80
60
40
20
22
People needed
productive screen time
people don't
want screen time
Did you & your kids experience any other AR toys before?
Do you want to have time off from your kids?
Over 124 people in 2019
100
85
80
60
39
40
20
People who don't
experience AR Toys
People experiencing
AR Toys
Over 124 people in 2019
100
84
80
60
40
40
20
People
said yes
People said
No
Hippopappa kick starter Evaluation 1
After interviews and surveys, we got some major insights and then we planned to start our first phase as a kick starter pack prior to math maestro to see how parents and kids show interest with our activity box and app, we in turn planned to launch product directly to market to know real experience of users as to how they feel while using hippopappa. lastly, it needed to be tested first phase as much as we can before we entered into the full version of hippopappa. The box Kickstarter includes Math activities like grouping, calculating, counting, analyzing, reasoning, solving and more through stories. we went through a lot of iterations for the design with teams, stakeholders to get their insights thereby visualizing final design.
Hippopappa kick starter - Few app screen shots
Testing Phase - Inhouse and Real users evaluation
In the testing phase, there are two phases, one is from inhouse team and the second one is real users who are going to spend money on our product (kids and parents). We conducted first phase testing with different age categories of kids and parents in different apartments to get their insights of what they think about the product, how kids interact with it in real time and whether they are really interested in spending money for an AR product. Hence we got a lot of insights from parents and kids as well.
Real time evaluation phase
Feedbacks and Painpoints
from test Phases
Painpoints and feedbacks
Kids are getting bored while the single character is speaking throughout the app
App interaction with character was very less while exploring and content feels minimal in
the app
character's speaking audio should be improved better.
Instead of one time
buy try subscription
based boxes
kids eyes got irritated during high color contrast.
Instructional guides must be better while exploring app.
content structure needed to be improved.
Needed screentime duration control.
Love from users
Kids and parents enjoyed app.
They loved AR visualization.
Most of them liked 3D coloring sheets.
Parents felt Price range ideations are affordable.
How important the Feedbacks and painpoints are
After kickstarted tested, we collect all downer points and feedbacks of user thereby planning our second phase technically sound.
People needs from Hippopappa
App interaction with character was very less while exploring and content feels minimal in
the app
Hippopappa restructured Version
The app exploration interaction is starts from the month selection screen itself. Here I've designed the map screen with exciting colors to make kids more attentive. kid and the app characters will get connected deeply from map screen itself and they are get to know the app contains much more levels to explore from the map mean while it is done purposefully because it triggers their curiosity to make them engaging with the app
Kids are getting bored
while the single character is
speaking throughout the app
character's speaking audio should be improved better.
Now kids are fully going to engaging with the app. The app is filled with story based exploration each and every characters
are speak with the kids made them interactive throughout the app.
Listen Audio
we enhanced clarity, pronunciation and voice time duration between each words and then it was given to some different age kids to analyze how they react while listening audio. Eventually they understood audio even more better.
kids eyes got irritated during high color contrast.
Instructional guides must be better while exploring app.
Needed screentime duration control.
Colors are retreated using lite pastel tones and dark tones to soothe kids eyes and also enhances their experience throughout app.
Guides and instructions are revamped with app characters. Now even kids can explore throughout app without their parents need.
After lot of iterations, app have been incorporated parenting control as per parents need and wish.
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content structure needed to be improved.
The whole activity of box is framed with help of different school staffs like Montessori, matriculation, CBSE schools to get their knowledge on how kids analyze and solve problems at this particular age and increases levels and activities in each box.
Instead of one time
buy try subscription
based boxes
We have rolled out different segment of customized activity box which users can buy single box at a time. moreover, they can buy any series either separately or subscribe our boxes for monthly basis like 3 months and 6 months.
Hippopappa Launch after evaluation phase
we did more iteration & Heuristic evaluation with random users from our known source thereby increasing our app interactions with interactive stories, restructuring math content, introducing much more characters, fine tuning audios, lively colors for kids and future parenting control. lastly we addressed down points as much as we can and launched boxes with different series, such as kick starter box and math maestro and then planned our hippopappa launch as "World first AR toy launch" as it was recognized by kids and parents.
Insights and Impacts
KPI's of first month over selling 184 Boxes in three categories
Parenting control
is it really useful?
Activity and content structure
App audio quality
Average
Satisfied
Good
Excellent
Parents experience
about app
Activity box sufficient
for that price range
AR experience while exploring the app
3d coloring sheet
experience
Few character design samples
Main Character Iterations
Monthly app characters
Sequence Characters
Say hi!!Want to know more? Let's chat!
Or Shoot me an email at designwithkanna@gmail.com
