Welcome!

Design principles for kidsCamp DigitalManchester, March 17th

Hello!I’m Karina

What I normally do...

Design studio specialized in digital products for kids

Play-based language learning platform for kids

ABCKit

ABCKit for 5

myABCKit

Why are we here?

Children are not mini-adults

They have distinct developmental limitations 

Guidelines when designing for kids

5 MUST

Simplicity Goal-centered

Honesty Challenging

Fun

Simplicity

Remove unnecessary complexity

Clear and consist modes of operation

Only relevant information

SimplicityDESIGN PRINCIPLES FOR

#1

Affordance

The function of the object is clearly perceived

“

The fantastic flying books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

Usability is improved when similar parts are expressed in similar ways

#2

Consistency

“

Cubetto

Time required to move to a target is related to size and distance

#3

Fitt’s law

“

Toca Monsters by Toca Boca

Toca Monsters by Toca Boca

Design should help to avoid errors and minimize negative impact

#4

Forgiveness

“

myABCKit

Only necessary or requested information is displayed at any given time

#5

Progressive disclosure

“

Hopscotch

Hopscotch

Similar elements are perceived to be more related than dissimilar

#6

Similarity

“

Intro to numbers by Montessorium

Visual equivalence among elements in a form

#7

Symmetry

“

nuevos trazos de myABCKIT pra niñosChinese Class by Monkimun

nuevos trazos de myABCKIT pra niñosChinese Class by Monkimun

Goal-centered

One single action with one main purpose

Allows kids to focus

...and to develop memory

Goal-centered

DESIGN PRINCIPLES FOR

Perception of a set of individual elements as a single pattern

#1

Closure

“

Pinsaic

Preventing unintended actions by requiring verification before they are performed

#2

Confirmation

“

Monument Valley

Limiting the actions

#3

Constraint

“

Intro to Geo by Montessorium

Control should be related to the proficiency and experience levels

#4

Control

“

Lego for iPad

An action or omission of action yielding an unintended result

#5

Errors

“

myABCKit

The time it takes to make a decision, increases equally as the number of alternatives

#6

Hick’s law

“

Intro to numbers by Montessorium

Use of a pictorial image to improve recognition and recall

#7

Iconic representation

“

Skratch

Elements that are close together are perceived to be more related

#8

Proximity

“

Minecraft

Minecraft

Minecraft

Honesty

Total transparency when it comes to design for them

They trust. So, be fair.

Honesty

DESIGN PRINCIPLES FOR

#1

Expectation Effect

Perception and behavior changes as a result of personal or others expectations “

Smartick

#2

Highlighting

Bringing attention to an area of text or image

“

Contre Jour

#3

Picture superiority effect

Pictures are remembered better than words

“

Builders by Toca Boca

#4

Storytelling

Method for creating imagery, emotions and understanding of events

“

myABCKit

Challenging

From 6 - 7 Y.O. they enjoy micro-conflicts

Produces joy while feeling empowered

Allows them to feel independent

Challenging

DESIGN PRINCIPLES FOR

#1

A process of repeating a set of operations until a specific result is archived.

“

Iteration

myABCKit

myABCKit

myABCKit

#2

The greater the effort to accomplish the task, the less likely to be accomplished.“

Performance Load

Hopscotch

Hopscotch

Hopscotch

Hopscotch

#3

Communicating novel information using elements of common understanding

“

Rosetta Stone

myABCKit

Fun

It triggers the most authentic part of the kids

Allows to recall better the experience

Fun experiences promote repetition

Fun

DESIGN PRINCIPLES FOR

#1

Get attention, indicate meaning and enhance aesthetics

“

Color

Green Pink

Paper

#2

A state of mental focus so intense that awareness of the real world is lost

“

Immersion

Minecraft

#3

A tendency to prefer savanna-like environment to other types of environments“

Savanna

Teletubbies

Wrap up

5 MUST

Simplicity Goal-centered

Honesty Challenging

Fun

Any questions?

Karina Ibarra@karinai

Thank you!@arquinauta