Upvrd: Gamifying corporate workshops

Nilanjan Debnath

Gamification

Motion Designer

Adobe After Effects

Adobe Illustrator

Figma

01 Objective

Develop a B2B employee training product designed to enhance learning efficiency and reduce costs for organizations in rapidly evolving sectors such as service and healthcare. Collaborating with Quoncious and eMinds, this initiative led to an award-winning app funded by Apollo Pharmacies India.

1.1 My Role

Lead Motion Design, Visual Design, and Gamification Design

Timeline: 3 Months Team: Product Designer, Motion Designers, UI Designer Tools: Adobe Illustrator, Figjam, MidJourney, After Effects, Procreate, Lottie

02 Key Product Features

Learning Plans: Short, 3-minute chapters divided across 10 levels to ensure micro-learning and sustained attention.

Reward System: In-game currency, variable rewards, and leaderboard integration to boost motivation.

Challenges: Bonus activities for earning XP and unlocking exclusive content.

Daily Engagement: AI-driven reminders and notifications delivered through characters, ensuring an emotionally resonant user experience.

03 Solutions & Strategies

Using gamification and behavioral design principles to transform employee training experience into– an immersive and rewarding journey.

3.1 Strategy Workshops

This project was about reimagining how corporate training could evolve into an engaging, impactful, and delightful experience.

5 whys to understand the crux

3.2 Research and Analysis

Conducted qualitative research and identified core user motivations.

Applied the 5 Whys framework to uncover fundamental challenges in existing training systems.

Integrated frameworks by Yu-kai Chou (Octalysis) and Nir Eyal (Hook Model) to build sustainable engagement loops.

Digital whiteboard

3.2 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.

3.3 Lovable Characters

Six unique characters, each with specific roles in driving accountability and engagement- Tatelle (Guide) Nilli (Messenger) Trillo (Treasure Finder) Partho (Insight Giver) Mishka (Playful Ally Bikolo (Mentor)

3.4 Reward Systems

Developed animations for rewards, ensuring they tied back to in-app learning goals, like donating in-game currency to real-world causes.

Make real impact through donations

3.5 AI tools that develop concept

Leveraged AI tools for efficient character design and vector artwork animation.

Prompt-engineered pathways to enhance onboarding, skill acquisition, and story-driven engagement.

500+ unique backgrounds, demons and generated artwork

04 Design process 🚀

Collaboration was at the heart of this project. Through intensive brainstorming and thought exercises with project stakeholders, I converted insights into actionable design solutions:

Gamified User Journey: Created a system where progress is tied to exploration and curiosity.

Animation and Motion Design: Developed seamless animations that enhanced the sense of immersion.

Behavioral Design: Ensured the app felt distinct from workplace environments while fostering accountability.

Pathways shift and shimmer, guiding each visitor towards their unique path of enlightenment.

4.1 Character Design

The characters in Shamrin are more than just avatars; they are narrative-driven companions designed to enhance user engagement and accountability. Each character plays a specific role in the gamified ecosystem, contributing to the user's learning journey while ensuring that every interaction feels purposeful and rewarding.

How the Characters Enhance the Gamified Experience-

Emotional Connection: Characters provide feedback, celebrate milestones, and soften setbacks, making the process less transactional.

Accountability and Motivation: Each character personality and tasks are carefully designed to 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.

Leveraging AI

Graphics and Motion Design

Character Animations: Each character was animated with their personality in mind. For instance: Tatelle’s movements are calm and deliberate, reflecting wisdom and growth. Nilli’s animations are quick and lively, matching her energetic personality.

Interactive Feedback: Characters respond to user actions, such as celebrating wins with a cheerful animation or delivering notifications with a unique entrance sequence.

Styling Consistency: All characters share a unified art style inspired by the ethereal, mystical world of Shamrin, incorporating soft gradients, glowing effects, and smooth lines.

Easy to animate vector artwork

4.2 Optimizations & Lottie

Vector animation allows using an array of motion that's quick to load

Lottie container is well supported across media devices

100s of assets

High contrast and easy to navigate for all age groups

05 Results and Afterthoughts

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.

Early user feedback highlighted increased engagement and a deeper emotional connection to learning tasks.

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.

Why characters mattered in the design?

Characters transform the app into a living, breathing ecosystem. They provide more than just visual appeal; they embody the core gamification principles that drive user behavior.

The design process for each character required careful consideration of not just their roles but also their behavioral impact. I ensured every element—story, visuals, motion, and functionality—worked in harmony to craft an experience that feels magical, meaningful, and motivational.

Why hire a consultant like me?

1. Holistic Approach: By integrating motion design, UX expertise, and gamification, I create engaging products that resonate with users emotionally and intellectually. 2. Forward-Thinking Vision: My solutions don't just solve problems—they drive innovation, keeping you ahead of the curve. 3. Cutting-Edge Solutions: As a design consultant specializing in next-gen brand touchpoints, I leverage industry-leading frameworks to create intuitive and delightful interactions.

Collaborate with someone who sees the big picture, aligns with your goals, and delivers transformative results.

Like this project

• Gamification Strategy | • Motion Design | • Lottie → Making learning a habit– featuring gamified user journeys, characters & worldbuilding.

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