INDUSTRY:
THE PERFECT GIFT-GIVING EXPERIENCE
CLIENT:
ALEX KOWALSKI
YEAR:
2022
EXPERIENCE:
BESPOKE DESIGN
Bespoke Design Project 2
about.
This project serves as the second phase of the "Bespoke Design" assignment. After researching the user in extent previously, the task was to design and prototype a digital "Unwrapping Experience" for the selected gift: a weekend trip to a cabin in the woods. The objective was to create an engaging digital journey that builds anticipation before revealing the actual intangible gift.
The main challenge was to balance the user's conflicting personality traits: Alex is highly organized and structured, yet he also loves mystery, challenges, and absurd humor. The design needed to:
Provide Autonomy: Give him a sense of control to satisfy his organized nature.
Build Suspense: Use mystery and curiosity to keep him engaged.
Inject Humor: Incorporate personal jokes and "absurd" elements to make it memorable.
design process.
I followed a structured iteration process to refine the concept:
Ideation: I used the "Brainwriting" technique to generate diverse ideas, ranging from a "Fish-themed escape room" to "Whack-a-fish" games, eventually narrowing down to concepts that fit the "Forest" and "Mystery" themes.
Storyboarding: I mapped out a narrative featuring a "Fish Fortune Teller" who reads Tarot cards containing memes and clues, blending the user's love for fishing with comedy.
Prototyping (Low-Fi to Hi-Fi):
Low-Fi: Created initial sketches and wireframes to test card mechanics and story flow. Feedback indicated the character needed to be funnier.
Hi-Fi: Redesigned the character to look "goofy" and added dynamic camera work (zooming in to build false tension) to enhance the comedic delivery.
result.
The final result was a high-fidelity digital prototype.
The Experience: The user interacts with a mysterious "Fish Fortune Teller" who reveals Tarot cards. Instead of serious fortunes, the cards reveal memes (like a "Rick Roll") and hints about the trip.
Outcome: The design successfully combined hand-drawn visuals with interactive storytelling. User testing showed that the "meme in the magic ball" was a standout moment, effectively blindsiding the user with humor before revealing the heartwarming gift of a cabin trip with his best friend.
testimonial.
The memes made me cry from laughter, and the reveal was heartwarming.
ALEX KOWALSKI
CLIENT