We conducted:
Parent interviews to understand concerns (quality, screen time, safety)
Teacher surveys to map their needs for reach and content tools
User observation with children to validate attention span, visual feedback, and input types
Findings shaped key principles:
Keep UI clear, colorful, and icon-based
Support flexible learning styles (watch, listen, do)
Balance content structure with freedom to explore
Logo Evolution:
Started with a friendly owl with glasses—symbolizing wisdom and love for learning. Evolved into a modular wordmark inspired by LEGO blocks to maximize legibility on small screens and icons.
Yellow = optimism
Purple = creativity
Black = confidence
Neon accents = childlike excitement
Poppins for primary headlines: modern and legible
Source Sans Pro for body text: clean and quiet
Additional playful fonts for in-game and printable content
Color system expanded with 6+ accents and pastels for visual hierarchy and joy
Goal: Minimize friction while collecting necessary inputs.
Flow: 3 steps—country → mobile/email → child’s profile.
Tested with kids to ensure icon clarity, tap targets, and minimal cognitive load. Designed to feel like entering a magical space, not a signup wall.
Redesigned multiple iterations to support:
Content hierarchy based on priority (free/paid)
Easy tabbed access to games, courses, and stories
Big, bold CTAs and preview tiles for discoverability
Ensured responsiveness and readability across devices using scalable grids.
Designed a seamless discovery-to-engagement journey:
Browse or search for a course
Watch preview trailer
Enroll (free/paid)
Enter structured class interface with progress tracking
Each class had rich interactivity—activity sheets, mini-games, quizzes.
Created structured, thematic journeys (e.g., "Learn Phonics in 20 Minutes a Day").
Worked with curriculum experts to sequence content logically.
Bundled diverse media (videos, games, stories) in one place, boosting retention and comprehension.
Designed:
Leaderboards to celebrate top learners
Daily Missions for habit formation
Star Diggers Contest for monthly rewards
Progress Bars that even 4-year-olds could understand
Crafted visual badges (Iron, Bronze, Gold) and celebratory animations to maintain excitement.
Led the design of 1000+ educational games:
Math, phonics, coloring, sorting, vocabulary
Created tiles that evolved from illustrated icons to real-photo previews
Ensured clear call-to-actions, instructional clarity, and instant feedback mechanisms
Directed and illustrated narrative-driven audio books with read-along features.
Used tools like Adobe Illustrator and XD to bring stories to life visually—aligning cover designs with mood, moral, and cultural cues.
Enhanced immersion by embedding images inside the text, making the reading experience fun and memorable.
Ensured offline usability with downloadable worksheets for core subjects.
Designed to be:
Visually clean with bold outlines for coloring
Instructionally simple for self-paced work
Mobile-print compatible
Play n Learn Tiles:
Moved from abstract illustrations to photographic previews → increased interaction rate.
Video Course Cards:
Introduced price tags, minimized thumbnail clutter, emphasized course names for higher scannability.
Regular A/B testing on layouts to boost CTRs and time-on-page.
+30K organic downloads
+400 daily users
High parent retention & course completion
Reduced churn via gamification and learning paths
App Store Rating: 4.3/5
Design is as much about clarity and empathy as it is about visual craft.
Gamification isn't a gimmick—it’s a structured motivator when thoughtfully integrated.
Iteration matters. Many of our best design decisions emerged from data-informed pivots.
Building trust with young users requires invisible UX—no confusion, no blockers.
“Working with Mr. Aneesh Kode, Zuzu’s co-founder, transformed how I see product design. He challenged me to consider the business side—how every design choice needs to support not just the user, but also the growth engine. This balance of empathy and strategy shaped me into the product designer I am today. Zuzu was more than a project; it was my design playground, lab, and bootcamp.”
