YOO
2024
overview
"YOO" is an innovative open-world RPG that transcends traditional language learning, inspired by my desire to reconnect with Zhuang culture. This game addresses both my personal detachment from ethnic roots and the broader inadequacies of current language learning platforms.
Role
UX/UI Designer
- User Research
- Interface Design
- Prototyping
- Usability Testing
Duration
2024/05 – 2024/08
Goals & Challenges
My goals are to reconnect with my Zhuang heritage and explore a new approach to language learning through a fun, social game. The challenge lies in finding a way to convey my ideas effectively while balancing engagement with education, staying culturally authentic, and continuously iterating based on feedback.
Game Trailers
Wait, what is Zhuang?
The Zhuang （壮族） are the largest ethnic minority in China, primarily residing in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, with a population nearing 18 million.
While Zhuang is one of the largest minority languages in China, it has been facing challenges in recent decades due to the increasing dominance of Mandarin Chinese. Urbanization and economic factors often contribute to a shift away from minority languages like Zhuang, especially among younger generations (like me😢). I was born Zhuang, but raised in a city away from my traditional roots, without learning the Zhuang language or engaging deeply with my culture.
The Zhuang language was traditionally written using Sawndip, a script made up of characters similar to Chinese ideograms. In recent decades, a standardized script using the Latin alphabet was developed to help preserve and promote the language. For this project, I’ve decided to learn the language using the Modern Phonetic System.
Language Learning Today
Language Learning tomorrow
I began by conducting screener surveys and 6 in-depth interviews to truly understand the key pain points: boredom from repetitive language drills, disappointment with slow content updates, a lack of cultural depth, uncertainty about applying the language in real life, and a sense of disconnection due to a weak community presence.
From there, I dove into secondary research, crafted journey maps to visualize both the current and future states, and developed a service blueprint to map out the entire experience. Storyboards and concept testing helped bring these ideas to life in a tangible way. I also mapped out experience principles, using the AEIOU framework to observe usability testing, which ultimately inspired a crucial question: How might we create an engaging, efficient, and social game-based platform for language learning?
All About Yoo
Learning
Continuously test and iterate to refine the product, adapt to feedback to stay aligned with user needs, and always explore beyond the obvious to drive innovation.
