Upvrd: People transformation app (B2B Training)

Nilanjan Debnath

Completed work

Creative Director

Motion Designer

Product Strategist

Adobe After Effects

Figma

Midjourney

SaaS

01 Objective

Gamification of a B2B employee training product, based on in-person offline workshops.

We had research from previous award winning programs, they aim to upskill/re-train existing employees, and were designed to enhance learning efficiency while reducing costs for organizations

The product design & development was ongoing, roughly 6 months to completion.

After receiving the brief, I suggested building a gamification system…

Initially, I joined as a Motion designer to build it in Lottie.

The original plan was to have a story in a mystical village with interesting character communications to motivate the user.

After receiving the brief– I suggested building a gamification system around their characters and village. That would essentially aim to make learning an addictive game instead of just another ticket on their to-do list.

They liked the idea.

02 Challenge

The graphics, characters, animation and story needed to enhance the experience, immerse the viewer, away from their daily grind.

Learn why the offline workshops were successful, from trainers.

For an addictive gamification system it is essential to understand the most minute emotions that surround the user.

Bring users back to the app.

My Role

Lead Motion and Gamification Design

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

03 Strategies & Solutions

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

Workshop with the Founder

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

04 Design process 🚀

4.1 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.

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

4.2 Midjourney powered visual journey

Prompt-engineered pathways to generate images with consistent style and biomes. Generating over 500 backgrounds, NPCs, locations.

500+ unique backgrounds, demons and generated artwork

4.3 Character Design & Motion

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.

Bikolo- Village head & mentor

Tatelle- Buddy & guide

Nilli- Messenger bird

Trillo- Treasure finder

Partho- Insight giver

Mishka- Playful ally

How the Characters gamify-

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

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.

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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.

Presently being tested with Beta user group.

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 hire a consultant like me?

1. Holistic Approach: By integrating motion design, UX expertise, and gamification– I build engaging products that pull users emotionally and intellectually.

2. Forward-Thinking Vision: My strategies don't just solve problems– they also 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 leaving competitors behind.

Collaborate with someone who sees the big picture, aligns with your goals while ensuring your product never fails.

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Completed work

Posted Jul 25, 2024

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

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