Math Space Adventures

Designing a Gamified Learning Concept for Early Learners

UX | Game Design | Visual Design | Concept Lead

The words 'Math Space Adventures!' hovering over the edge of a planet.
The words 'Math Space Adventures!' hovering over the edge of a planet.
In cockpit view of how a user would count how many rockets to select to blow up oncoming meteors.
In cockpit view of how a user would count how many rockets to select to blow up oncoming meteors.
Space dinosaurs having a disco party on an alient planet.
Space dinosaurs having a disco party on an alient planet.
Anthropromorphised Owl 'Al' in his space suit greeting the user.
Anthropromorphised Owl 'Al' in his space suit greeting the user.

Overview

Math Space Adventures was a conceptual prototype for a playful, space-themed learning platform aimed at early learners. The goal: make foundational math skills engaging and memorable through interactive storytelling, visual learning, and light gamification — all grounded in a UX that supports kids’ cognitive and emotional development.

My Role

I wore all the hats on this one — including:

  • UX + interaction design

  • Character design and illustrations

  • Game flow and level progression

  • UI design tailored for young learners

  • Prototype development for concept testing and pitching

Design Approach

  • Space-Themed Narrative: Learners join a crew of friendly alien explorers, solving math puzzles to repair their ship and travel across the galaxy

  • Chunked Learning: Activities were structured in short bursts to support early attention spans

  • Touch-Friendly UI: Large hit areas, minimal text, and animated feedback for success

  • Progress Visualization: Learners could see their journey unfold on a mission map, building a sense of achievement and forward motion

Visual Language

  • Bright, high-contrast colors to support visual accessibility

  • Friendly, non-intimidating character designs to encourage exploration

  • Clear iconography and motion cues for guidance without heavy text

Prototype Highlights

  • Mini-Games for number matching, sequencing, and shape recognition

  • Adaptive Feedback using visual cues, encouraging tone, and retry loops

  • Onboarding Flow that guided kids through setup and introduced game mechanics step by step

Reflection

This was one of my favorite sandbox projects — the kind where design, storytelling, and systems thinking all intersect. Designing for early learners pushed me to simplify, delight, and communicate through motion and metaphor. It reminded me that playful design can be smart design.