Upvrd: Gamification & Mascots for EdTech (2024)
Nilanjan Debnath
01 Objective
Character design for an B2B employee upskilling App.
Upvrd aims to upskill employees, designed to enhance learning efficiency and reducing cost for organizations.
My Role
Lead Motion and Gamification Design
Timeline: 3 Months
Team: Product Owner, Animator
Tools: Figma, Adobe Illustrator, After Effects, MidJourney, Lottie & Rive
After receiving the brief, I suggested building a deeper gamification system…
The paper napkin idea, was to have a story in a mystical village with interesting communication that motivate users.
After receiving the brief– I suggested building a gamification system around their characters and village. It would essentially aim to make learning an addictive experience instead of 'just another ticket' on their to-do list.
They liked the idea 👍
02 Challenge
Characters need to have a range of motion & emotion, with considerably different attitudes.
The communication experience should immerse the viewer, away from their daily grind.
03 Designing Characters
3.1 Defining jobs
Each character plays a specific role in the gamified ecosystem.
Bikolo Village head & mentor
Tatelle Buddy & guide
Nilli Messenger bird
Trillo Treasure finder
Partho Insight giver
Mishka Playful ally
They contribute to the user's learning journey while ensuring that every interaction feels purposeful and rewarding.
3.2 Gen AI powered visual journey
Generated images with consistent style and biomes using prompt-engineered pathways in Midjourney.
500+ unique backgrounds, demons and generated artwork
3.3 How do they gamify?
Accountability and Motivation: Personality and tasks align with gamification principles like variable rewards, progress mechanics, and loss aversion.
Narrative Depth: Progress isn’t just about completing tasks; it’s about uncovering new facets of Shamrin and its mystical inhabitants.
Emotional Connection: Characters provide feedback, celebrate milestones, and soften setbacks, making the process less transactional.
Pathways shift and shimmer, guiding each visitor towards their unique path of enlightenment.
Make real impact through donations
04 Design Strategies
4.1 Identifying root of the problem for solutions
Workshop with the Founder
4.2 Gamification framework
Integrated frameworks by Yu-kai Chou (Octalysis) and Nir Eyal (Hook Model) to build sustainable engagement loops.
4.2 World-Building and Narrative Design
Designed Shamrin: The Celestial Oasis, a mystical environment with stages, quests, and chapters to guide users through their learning journey.
Each stage introduced new characters and rewards, fostering a sense of exploration and progress.
05 Results and Expansion
This project demonstrated how effective design can transform a traditionally dry and corporate-driven activity into a joyful, gamified experience:
The app was received positively, earning funding from Apollo Pharmacies India.
Presently being tested with Beta user group (Store link attached)
The process reaffirmed the importance of balancing fun and accountability in corporate learning. By crafting delightful interactions and a robust reward system, the app became a powerful tool to nurture employee growth without reliance on negative emotions like fear or self-doubt.
Ongoing: Migration from Lottie to Rive (Apr 2025)
Why hire a consultant like me?
1. By integrating motion design, UX expertise, and gamification– I build engaging products that pull users emotionally and intellectually. Holistic Approach.
2. My strategies don't just solve problems– they also drive innovation, keeping you ahead of the curve. Forward-Thinking Vision
3. As a design consultant specializing in next-gen brand touchpoints, I leverage industry-leading frameworks to create intuitive and delightful interactions leaving competitors behind. Cutting-Edge Solutions.
Collaborate with someone who sees the big picture, aligns with your goals while ensuring your product never fails.
Like this project
Posted Jul 25, 2024
• Gamification Strategy | • Motion Design | • Lottie → Making learning a habit– featuring gamified user journeys, characters & worldbuilding.
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