Role
- Branding
- Product Design
Scope
- 9 Weeks
- Personal Project
is a Tamagotchi, or a digital pet, and was created for audiences both young and older, serving as a fun and interactive experience for younger audiences, as well as a nostalgic project for others who remember or even own a Tamagotchi.
Oswald is a UX/UI case study, experimenting with an interface that works across generations, as well as a challenge to test the capabilities of Figma.
As part of this project, I implemented Chat GPT into the storytelling aspect of this project to experiment with a more streamlined process.
Oswald is a UX/UI case study, experimenting with an interface that works across generations, as well as a challenge to test the capabilities of Figma.
As part of this project, I implemented Chat GPT into the storytelling aspect of this project to experiment with a more streamlined process.
Objective
- Enhance User Engagement: Increase user engagement by introducing modern UI/UX elements that captivate users and encourage longer interaction with the virtual pet.
- Preserve Nostalgia: Retain the nostalgic essence of the original Tamagotchi while incorporating modern design elements, ensuring that users like Rachel feel a strong connection to the cherished memories of the past.
- Improve Accessibility and Usability: Implement design changes that enhance accessibility and usability, catering to users of all ages and ensuring a seamless experience for both kids like Emma and nostalgic adults like Rachel.
Understanding Our Audience...
User Flow
First Design Iterations
I first struggled with this project's look and feel, seeing that I would be improving the user experience, but trying to keep the nostalgia. I experimented using designs reminiscent of the Gameboy and similar older consoles but realized I had to create a design that emulated Oswald's story.
Oswald is a medieval knight, meaning a relic similar to a stopwatch could be used as the interface, and it likely would have been silver at that time. This led to the idea of a physical toggle selection, using three buttons atop, with the sides being a toggle select, and the middle being a selection confirmation.
Style Guide
Implementing a brand identity for this project was essential in crafting Oswald's story. Choosing a typeface to accurately depict the design choices I made, while adding a level of sophistication to the design, and adding a sans-serif font to make the text throughout interactions short and readable.
The original Tamagotchi used simple 8-bit icons for the user to latch onto that an action, and to emulate that, we stuck to simple icons that would give the user an idea of what it would do, in addition to the
Problems along the way...
Solutions
- Components were too complex for Figma to prototype smoothly
- Initial foundation of this project needed to be a lot more organized to continue
- Menu selection was not optimally prototyped in the first iterations
- Rebuilding Oswald: Stay with simple flat-solid colors, staying away from gradients, due to the complexity, it added to the prototype
- Initial foundation of this project needed to be a lot more organized to continue building for later implementations
Final Designs
Prototype
Project Takeaways
This project has been a profound journey, marked by challenges and valuable lessons in UX/UI design. Starting with minimal Figma knowledge, I delved into the intricate world of user experience, realizing its omnipresence. Oswald's Tamagotchi project became a catalyst for growth. Beyond creating visually appealing graphics, I grasped the significance of intentional design and the UI as a meaningful conversation. Through exercises and real-world observations, subtle animations became tools to enhance user experience. Testing on my phone ensured functionality and user-friendliness, emphasizing the project's role as a pivotal step in my design journey.
