Pumped
Games for learning educational ipad game for Fuel centers
Project Type
Game Design, UX, UI, LXD, Content Writing, Research
Tools
XD, Illustrator, AEM
Client
Walmart
Year
2021
Problem
Pumped was suffering from UI issues and design flows. With the majority of the development being handled by a third party vendor (NIIT), the app was strife with issues that didn't adhere to company or industry standards.
Role
As the UX and Visual Designer attached to the project, I provided consultation and direct designs to the vendor for implementation. I also participated in content copy writing to improve the tone and direction. As an entire team, we all collaborated on game design thinking sessions to refine requirements and to iterate as we went along.
Solution
We worked back with the vendor to come up with guidelines and solutions to tackle found issues. By collaborating with them on all parts of design we were able to move forward in ways that delighted our business partner.
Background
Key Challenges
Limited user understanding, intricate UI, divergence from brand and industry norms, and an unfriendly content tone, and the need for additional art direction.
Game Outline
One environment
40 microlearning activities in several categories
onboarding tutorials to cover basic rule of category
each level features a set of task walkthroughs then a capstone
Increasing comlexity/number of activities each level
badging/scoring system
Users
internal and external
hourly supervisors, trainders and department managers
already have received same-topic training, this to be supplemental
age 21+
target 8th-9th grade reading level
replay unlikely
no gaming experience targeted
Actions Taken
Expert Review
Conducted an in-depth expert review of the existing app.
Evaluated user flows, navigation, and visual design.
Identified discrepancies between the UI and brand and industry standards.
User Interviews
Orchestrated user interviews with the intended learners to gain invaluable insights.
Isolated specific pain points and areas of confusion within the app.
Nurtured a user-centric approach to guide further improvements.
Content Refinement
Reassessed all written content within the onboarding flow of the app and level screens.
Overhauled and rephrased the content to cultivate a more approachable and engaging tone.
Ensured content alignment with learning objectives and user expectations.
We even played around with adding fuel-based humor to the game. While we ultimately chose not to include it, it was one of the most laughter-filled ideation sessioins I've had.
Why can't the police stop the theft of gasoline?
They never go on petrol
I also rewrote a lot of the copy to have a friendlier and more casual tone. Example below.
"Welcome to Pumped! In this game you will practice important tasks for Fuel Station Associates"
becomes
"Welcome to Pumped!Let's begin your adventure in Fuel! This game will help you learn the job of working in a fuel station.
UI Revamp
Delivered comprehensive UI guidelines to the external engineering vendor to align with brand and industry standards.
Designed and implemented new UI components and screens to streamline usability.
Simplified complex concepts and interactions to heighten user comprehension.
progress animation options
Results
Enhanced User Comprehension
Elevated UI Usability
Enforced UI guidelines, aligning the app with brand and industry standards.
Introduced redesigned screens and pathways to augment navigation and user-friendliness.
Friendly and Relatable Tone
Conclusion
Through expert reviews, user interviews, content refinement, and UI redesign, the project addressed user comprehension issues, amplified UI usability, and crafted a more user-friendly learning experience. Collaborating closely with internal business and product stakeholders, alongside an external engineering vendor, was pivotal in steering this project toward success. These enhancements align the app with industry and brand norms while also fostering more effective training for gas station employees.