Following the fun

The new content was initially scoped to include two episodes that followed the same framework as the prototype.

But through our discovery and further co-design sessions with the Boys & Girls club, we found an opportunity for a new feature that could add a lot of value. And perhaps more importantly: a lot more fun.

A key part of emotional awareness is being able to notice when emotions become heightened. But being able to identify and articulate exactly what’s happening in your body is difficult, especially for kids who don’t always have the vocabulary to express it yet. During the co-design sessions, it became clear that they felt and talked about these concepts in a breadth of different ways.

It begged the question: how could we lean into the abstract nature of emotions, and give youth a way to model their emotions in a way they understand?

So, our plans shifted. This can be a daunting thing to do, but testing ideas and getting validation through co-design sessions can make taking the leap easier.

We spent extra time developing the new feature: a rich, interactive tool for children to visualise their own emotions through abstract shape, colour, movement and sound. “The Splat”, as the tool was affectionately dubbed by some enthusiastic users, empowered them to express themselves in new ways.

This feature became a defining part of the new episodes, and it demonstrates the immeasurable value of testing and collaborating with your audience to uncover the hidden gold.

A theory for more effective engagement in digital learning

MindMatters

An online platform to create long-term behaviour change