Mavo
Mavo
Mavo
An emotion-driven word learning tool designed to help non-verbal children express themselves
An emotion-driven word learning tool designed to help non-verbal children express themselves
An emotion-driven word learning tool designed to help non-verbal children express themselves
Individual Project
Role: Product designer(research, UX design, prototyping)
DURATION
Nov 2024
TOOLS
Figma
Individual Project
Role: Product designer(research, UX design, prototyping)
DURATION
Nov 2024
TOOLS
Figma
Individual Project
Role: Product designer(research, UX design, prototyping)
DURATION
Nov 2024
TOOLS
Figma
Overview
Overview
Overview
Goal
Goal
Goal
The goal of MaVo is to create a word learning experience that combines stories, senses, and familiar voices to encourage expression
The goal of MaVo is to create a word learning experience that combines stories, senses, and familiar voices to encourage expression
The goal of MaVo is to create a word learning experience that combines stories, senses, and familiar voices to encourage expression
By combining tangible moments and storytelling guidance, MaVo helps children feel safe and motivated to express themselves.
By combining tangible moments and storytelling guidance, MaVo helps children feel safe and motivated to express themselves.
By combining tangible moments and storytelling guidance, MaVo helps children feel safe and motivated to express themselves.
Background
Background
Background
Most tools focus on mechanics of repetition. But non-verbal children need tools that feel safe, familiar, and playful to sustain attention.
Most tools focus on mechanics of repetition. But non-verbal children need tools that feel safe, familiar, and playful to sustain attention.
It is hard to find tools that support these children in building trust, staying engaged, and growing at their own pace.
It is hard to find tools that support these children in building trust, staying engaged, and growing at their own pace.
Problem
Problem
Problem
Most non-verbal children use word learning apps that lack emotional engagement, leading to low interest and short attention spans.
Most non-verbal children use word learning apps that lack emotional engagement, leading to low interest and short attention spans.
Most non-verbal children use word learning apps that lack emotional engagement, leading to low interest and short attention spans.
Design Direction
Design Direction
Design Direction
For non-verbal children, communication begins with sound, image, feeling, and trust. That is why MaVo creates a story-like, sensory space where children lead the pace.
For non-verbal children, communication begins with sound, image, feeling, and trust. That is why MaVo creates a story-like, sensory space where children lead the pace.
For non-verbal children, communication begins with sound, image, feeling, and trust. That is why MaVo creates a story-like, sensory space where children lead the pace.
That is why MaVo lets children lead the experience using their own abilities. This way, interaction becomes more personal, meaningful, and natural.
That is why MaVo lets children lead the experience using their own abilities. This way, interaction becomes more personal, meaningful, and natural.
That is why MaVo lets children lead the experience using their own abilities. This way, interaction becomes more personal, meaningful, and natural.
Problem & User
Problem & User
Problem & User
To explore this problem further, I began with user research and a review of existing solutions.
To explore this problem further, I began with user research and a review of existing solutions.
To explore this problem further, I began with user research and a review of existing solutions.
Familiar Voices Build Trust
Familiar Voices Build Trust
Familiar Voices Build Trust
Recognizable voices from parents or beloved characters create a sense of safety, helping children focus and feel supported.
Recognizable voices from parents or beloved characters create a sense of safety, helping children focus and feel supported.
Recognizable voices from parents or beloved characters create a sense of safety, helping children focus and feel supported.
Creative ownership drives engagement
Creative ownership drives engagement
Creative ownership drives engagement
Letting children create their own drawing word cards makes them more engaged and emotionally connected.
Letting children create their own drawing word cards makes them more engaged and emotionally connected.
Letting children create their own drawing word cards makes them more engaged and emotionally connected.
Beyond instructions
Beyond instructions
Beyond instructions
Instructional tools alone are not enough—non-verbal children need emotionally responsive, personalized learning experiences.
Instructional tools alone are not enough—non-verbal children need emotionally responsive, personalized learning experiences.
Instructional tools alone are not enough—non-verbal children need emotionally responsive, personalized learning experiences.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Based on interviews and research findings, I grouped user needs into three main themes.
Based on interviews and research findings, I grouped user needs into three main themes.
Based on interviews and research findings, I grouped user needs into three main themes.
Emotional connection keeps children engaged
Emotional connection keeps children engaged
Children stay engaged when tools feel like being with someone they know.
Children stay engaged when tools feel like being with someone they know.
Children stay engaged when tools feel like being with someone they know.
Personalization increases motivation
Personalization increases motivation
Ownership, like hearing a parent’s voice or drawing, turns practice into play.
Ownership, like hearing a parent’s voice or drawing, turns practice into play.
Ownership, like hearing a parent’s voice or drawing, turns practice into play.
Creative interaction fosters self-expression
Creative interaction fosters self-expression
CREATIVE iNTERACTION fOSTERS sELF EXPRESSION
Creative interaction enables self-expression. Drawing and tangible play let non-verbal children communicate without speech
Creative interaction enables self-expression. Drawing and tangible play let non-verbal children communicate without speech
Creative interaction enables self-expression. Drawing and tangible play let non-verbal children communicate without speech
These insights informed a user persona and journey map, helping define problems and guide solution ideas.
(Click on a image to zoom in.)
These insights informed a user persona and journey map, helping define problems and guide solution ideas.
(Click on a image to zoom in.)
These insights informed a user persona and journey map, helping define problems and guide solution ideas.
(Click on a image to zoom in.)
Goals & Principles
Goals & Principles
Goals & Principles
“How might we help non-verbal children build emotional engagement with word learning to encourage speech attempts?”
“How might we help non-verbal children build emotional engagement with word learning to encourage speech attempts?”
“How might we help non-verbal children build emotional engagement with word learning to encourage speech attempts?”
Design Goals
Design a vocabulary learning flow based on emotional attachment
Support child-led repetition through a sense of agency
Encourage speech attempts through playful, non-pressure-based interaction
Design Goals
Design a vocabulary learning flow based on emotional attachment
Support child-led repetition through a sense of agency
Encourage speech attempts through playful, non-pressure-based interaction
Design Goals
Design a vocabulary learning flow based on emotional attachment
Support child-led repetition through a sense of agency
Encourage speech attempts through playful, non-pressure-based interaction
Guiding Principles
Emotional Connection
Familiar Voice Input
Visual Ownership (drawing their own word cards)
Repeatable & Minimal Learning Flow
Guiding Principles
Emotional Connection
Familiar Voice Input
Visual Ownership (drawing their own word cards)
Repeatable & Minimal Learning Flow
Guiding Principles
Emotional Connection
Familiar Voice Input
Visual Ownership (drawing their own word cards)
Repeatable & Minimal Learning Flow
Flows & Structure
Flows & Structure
Flows & Structure
Why this flow?
Why this flow?
This flow combines recognition and ownership, familiar voices and child-created drawings making practice feel personal and meaningful rather than mechanical.
(Click on a image to zoom in.)
This flow combines recognition and ownership, familiar voices and child-created drawings making practice feel personal and meaningful rather than mechanical.
(Click on a image to zoom in.)
This flow combines recognition and ownership, familiar voices and child-created drawings making practice feel personal and meaningful rather than mechanical.
(Click on a image to zoom in.)
Prototyping
Prototyping
Prototyping
Lo-fidelity prototype
Lo-fi prototypes helped validate core interactions like page flipping and voice playback early.
Lo-fidelity prototype
Lo-fi prototypes helped validate core interactions like page flipping and voice playback early.
Lo-fidelity prototype
Lo-fi prototypes helped validate core interactions like page flipping and voice playback early.
Hi-fidelity prototype
Hi-fidelity prototype
Hi-fidelity prototype
Hi-fi prototypes illustrated how these felt personal and playful in real use.
Hi-fi prototypes illustrated how these felt personal and playful in real use.
Hi-fi prototypes illustrated how these felt personal and playful in real use.
User Testing & Iterations
User Testing & Iterations
User Testing & Iterations
Quick tests showed children expected automatic sensory feedback (sound on card open), and guardians needed clearer, familiar labels. Iterations simplified flows and made interactions more intuitive and emotionally responsive.
Quick tests showed children expected automatic sensory feedback (sound on card open), and guardians needed clearer, familiar labels. Iterations simplified flows and made interactions more intuitive and emotionally responsive.
Quick tests showed children expected automatic sensory feedback (sound on card open), and guardians needed clearer, familiar labels. Iterations simplified flows and made interactions more intuitive and emotionally responsive.
These small refinements significantly improved clarity and reduced friction in key user flows.
These small refinements significantly improved clarity and reduced friction in key user flows.
These small refinements significantly improved clarity and reduced friction in key user flows.
Learnings:
Speech motivation is ineffective without emotional engagement.
Planning for flexibility (drawings, voice recording) enables personalized experiences.
Learnings:
Speech motivation is ineffective without emotional engagement.
Planning for flexibility (drawings, voice recording) enables personalized experiences.
Learnings:
Speech motivation is ineffective without emotional engagement.
Planning for flexibility (drawings, voice recording) enables personalized experiences.
Interaction Details
Interactions were designed to feel personal and intuitive, inspired by familiar, physical experiences. Testing guided refinements to layout and labels so children could explore independently. Two key details shaped the final design:
Making Digital Learning Feel Physical
What happens
Children swipe or tap to flip vocabulary cards.
Each page turns with a smooth, book-like animation, complete with shadow and curl effects.
Why it matters
Transforms flat UI into a tactile, engaging experience.
Reinforces a sense of progress by making each new word feel like turning a chapter.
Mirrors real-world reading behaviors to build deeper familiarity.
A Companion that Guides the Journey
What happens
A mascot greets children and introduces categories with short, friendly prompts.
The character offers encouragement (“Great choice!”) and small narrative cues that frame learning as a shared journey.
Why it matters
Builds emotional connection and keeps children motivated.
Shifts the learning flow from static screens to an interactive dialogue.
Creates a supportive atmosphere that feels more like play than using an app.
"Instead of gamification, the system leverages recognition, ownership, and natural behavior—essential for engaging young non-verbal learners."
Instead of gamification, the system leverages recognition, ownership, and natural behavior to drive engagement—essential for young non-verbal users with limited attention spans."
Interaction Details
Interactions were designed to feel personal and intuitive, inspired by familiar, physical experiences. Testing guided refinements to layout and labels so children could explore independently. Two key details shaped the final design:
Making Digital Learning Feel Physical
What happens
Children swipe or tap to flip vocabulary cards.
Each page turns with a smooth, book-like animation, complete with shadow and curl effects.
Why it matters
Transforms flat UI into a tactile, engaging experience.
Reinforces a sense of progress by making each new word feel like turning a chapter.
Mirrors real-world reading behaviors to build deeper familiarity.
A Companion that Guides the Journey
What happens
A mascot greets children and introduces categories with short, friendly prompts.
The character offers encouragement (“Great choice!”) and small narrative cues that frame learning as a shared journey.
Why it matters
Builds emotional connection and keeps children motivated.
Shifts the learning flow from static screens to an interactive dialogue.
Creates a supportive atmosphere that feels more like play than using an app.
"Instead of gamification, the system leverages recognition, ownership, and natural behavior—essential for engaging young non-verbal learners."
Instead of gamification, the system leverages recognition, ownership, and natural behavior to drive engagement—essential for young non-verbal users with limited attention spans."
Interaction Details
Interactions were designed to feel personal and intuitive, inspired by familiar, physical experiences. Testing guided refinements to layout and labels so children could explore independently. Two key details shaped the final design:
Making Digital Learning Feel Physical
What happens
Children swipe or tap to flip vocabulary cards.
Each page turns with a smooth, book-like animation, complete with shadow and curl effects.
Why it matters
Transforms flat UI into a tactile, engaging experience.
Reinforces a sense of progress by making each new word feel like turning a chapter.
Mirrors real-world reading behaviors to build deeper familiarity.
A Companion that Guides the Journey
What happens
A mascot greets children and introduces categories with short, friendly prompts.
The character offers encouragement (“Great choice!”) and small narrative cues that frame learning as a shared journey.
Why it matters
Builds emotional connection and keeps children motivated.
Shifts the learning flow from static screens to an interactive dialogue.
Creates a supportive atmosphere that feels more like play than using an app.
"These interactions were designed to feel emotionally familiar and physically intuitive.
Instead of gamification, the system leverages recognition, ownership, and natural behavior to drive engagement—essential for young non-verbal users with limited attention spans."
Read more of my other projects
Read more of my other projects
Read more of my other projects
