Rare Colors – Lucie Robert

PROMPT

Design a virtual learning experience

TOOLS

After Effects, Blender

TIME

12 weeks

CONCEPT

Design system

OVERVIEW

01 PROBLEM STATEMENT

ONLINE LEARNING

E-LEARNING MODULES

The internet lets us imagine new methods for learning and teaching that have the potential to be more intuitive, accessible, and customizable than traditional classroom instruction.

We can design a user-friendly learning experience that sets users up for success helps users learn through psychology, UX patterns, and user research.

How can we make virtual learning more user-friendly?

02 DESIGN SOLUTION

RARE COLORS

USER EDUCATION

Rare Colors is an educational desktop experience where users can discover new colors, explore the color history, and dig deeper into color theory.

Self-directed exploration through play, repetition, visual stimulation, and interactive learning modules empower users to absorb, metabolize, and retain new information.

DISCOVER

Users are exposed to new info at their own pace by browsing the site.

UNDERSTAND

Visuals and interactive animations echo concepts for topic mastery

REMEMBER

Interactive learning modules subconsciously facilitate memorization.

03 ANIMATED PROTOTYPE

KEY FEATURES

FEATURE 01

COLOR DISCOVERY

EXPLORE

On Rare Colors, users never know what they will see next and learn about color by means of play and exploration.

This increases call-back by over 100% (when compared to just memorization)!

FEATURE 02

TIMELINE

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

The timeline feature displays colors based on when they first appeared in written works, which helps users understand color history in chronological order and provides an interactive site navigation.

FEATURE 03

LEARNING MODULES

REMEMBER

Users click on colors to open up a learning module, which is one-sentence facts about the chosen color over illustrative animations to help the user subconsciously retain the information.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

ELEMENTS

LOOK & FEEL

FEATURED COLORS

Users discover never-before-seen colors like Wenge, Xanadu, and Eburnean.

ANIMATIONS

The background is made up of rapidly changing 3D animations.

LOADING STATE

The logo combines a rainbow with a magnifying glass to show learning.

RESEARCH

UX PATTERN 01

PROGRESS BAR

GOAL GRADIENT EFFECT

The progress bar visually indicates time and energy invested in the learning modules, which motivates the user to complete the tasks they start.

UX pattern inspired by Apostrophe.com

UX PATTERN 02

VIRAL VISUALS

AESTHETIC USABILITY EFFECT

Rare Colors puts an emphasis on visual thrills to create a more usable experience and encourages users to share their progress on social media to reach new users.

UX pattern inspired by landing pages

UX PATTERN 03

ATTENTION SPAN

10 SECOND ANIMATIONS

The background animations for the learning modules change every ten seconds, ensuring there is always fresh visual stimulation to keep users entertained.

The serial position effect informed the decision to run the best animations at the beginning & end of the experience.

UX pattern inspired by TikTok.com

PROCESS

PROCESS 01

USER FLOW

PROCESS 02

WIREFRAMES

PROCESS 03

FINAL COMPS

PROCESS 04

ANIMATED PROTOTYPE

CONCLUSION

01 SUMMERY

VIRTUAL EDU

ONLINE LEARNING

Rare Colors is an e-learning desktop experience that invites users to teach themselves by leveraging proven digital design patterns and psychology to make a learning solution that works with our brain.

02 TAKE AWAYS

RENDER FARMS

Because of social distancing, this project was created using only my personal laptop computer, which can't render large files.

I adapted to these limitations by utilizing render farms to create the 2D prototype and the 3D animations.

TEACHING

History education comes with a responsibility to be aware of the many influences that affect what we decide to teach and what we decide not to include.

In creating Rare Colors, I tried to be respectful and mindful of my white privilege and to shed light on color history from all across the globe, not just in Europe and North America.