Askonauts -
Fueling Curiosity, One Question at a Time.
In a world where instant answers are just a tap away, children are losing the ability to wonder, question, and explore deeply. Askonauts nurtures curiosity by encouraging kids to ask meaningful questions and learn through engaging, comic-style storytelling. Instead of turning to search engines filled with distractions and unreliable information, children get thoughtful, AI-driven responses from expert characters who make learning exciting. With safe, reliable content and weekly group activities for families, this app fosters deeper thinking, stronger family connections, and a lifelong love for discovery because the right question can change everything.
Why Askonauts
We want kids to grow up asking better questions, thinking deeper, and exploring ideas beyond the surface. Instead of mindlessly consuming information, they’ll develop a love for curiosity and a habit of asking before assuming.
The Goal
Design Philosophy
Working on Askonauts reminded me that designing for children isn’t about simplification, it’s about respect. Kids aren’t just smaller users, they’re natural explorers. I aimed to create an experience that rewarded curiosity, not clicks. The goal wasn’t efficiency, it was wonder. My design choices leaned toward calm visuals, story-first UX, and tools that let kids slow down, reflect, and ask better questions.
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Title: UX & Product Designer (Contract)
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Sole Product Designer – UX/UI, Visual System, and Learning Strategy
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Company: Wasted Genius
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Duration: May 2024 – May 2025
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Status: In development (contract completed)
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I worked closely with the founder, educators, illustrators, and developers to define and design the user experience across web and tablet platforms.
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Led end-to-end UX design for tablet-first learning experience
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Developed age-based UI tiers for three different age groups
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Designed the full flow for onboarding, lessons, and family activities
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Created a comic-inspired visual system using Figma components
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Conducted user testing with children and synthesized insights
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Wrote product copy and interface text for tone consistency
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Co-created the app’s storytelling framework and designed an entire character ecosystem.
What I Did
Describe your image
Design Strategy
Age-Tiered Learning
Designed age-specific learning flows: Younger kids explored in 6-panel comics, while older learners dove into deeper narratives and layered themes.
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Ages 6–7: 6-panel comic format, large visuals, minimal text
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Ages 8–10: 12-panel interactive stories with response points
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Ages 11–13: 18-panel episodes with multi-layered lessons and missions
Comic-Inspired UI
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Tactile, swipe-friendly layout inspired by graphic novels
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Simplified controls with large, high-contrast buttons
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Integrated character speech bubbles and reflection prompts
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The Askonauts (Character System I Helped Co-Design)
Character Subject
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Dr. W. Bear (Tardigrade) - Space & Medicine
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Dr. F.T. Blue (Blue Whale) - Oceans
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Dr. Laika (Dog) - Life on Earth
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Dr. Lucy (Chimpanzee) - Forest Life
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Dr. Coco (Gorilla) - Language & Stories
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Dr. P. Appa (Elephant) - Emotional Intelligence
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Each character is also a voice for age-appropriate interaction, with different dialogue styles for each age band.
Features I Designed
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Comic-style interactive lessons
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AI-guided responses from Askonaut characters
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“Let’s Find Out” daily reflection prompt after each lesson
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Mission Deck: Weekly real-world quests for families
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Parent dashboard with insight summaries
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Zine-printable content for offline learning
Describe your image
Describe your image
Challenges & My Solutions
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Challenge: Younger kids struggle with too much on-screen text
Solution: Designed 6-panel comic stories with minimal text, tappable narration bubbles, and strong visual cues -
Challenge: Wide age range (6–13) required different cognitive levels
Solution: Created a tiered lesson format (6, 12, and 18 panels) and scaled the UI complexity based on age group -
Challenge: Parents wanted to track learning without traditional grading systems
Solution: Designed a lightweight parent dashboard with weekly summaries focused on curiosity themes and activity types — not scores -
Challenge: Needed to encourage daily engagement without gamification or screen addiction loops
Solution: Introduced reflective “Let’s Find Out” prompts after each lesson and real-world weekly missions via the Mission Deck -
Challenge: The app needed to be fun and educational, but not feel like school
Solution: Used comic storytelling, humor, and AI-powered Askonaut hosts to create a universe that feels like a curiosity-fueled adventure -
Challenge: Designing for tablets while keeping interactions intuitive for kids
Solution: Built large touch targets, swipe-based navigation, and comic panel transitions that mimic reading physical picture books
Working on Askonauts gave me the chance to bring together storytelling, accessibility, and education design in one highly meaningful product. Designing for kids is never about simplifying — it’s about respecting their intelligence and their attention.
This project also taught me how to advocate for curiosity-driven UX — where the goal isn’t to get users to a finish line, but to keep them asking, exploring, and wondering.