Language Central is an application for 6-8 graders studying life science. The app features flashcards and trivia over vocabulary terms that coincide with chapters they are studying in school.
The original concept of Word Fly had a frog character and was aimed at a younger audience. The game was adapted to include the chameleon from the Interactive Science book cover.
The app was very successful with students and I designed several other versions that each matched their subject's print materials.
Project Overview
Developed for iOS, Language Central is an application for 6-8 graders studying life science vocabulary terms. In addition to your standard flashcard functionality, the app also features Word Fly. It's a simple game that follows a similar structure to the classic Hangman game and offers students a great new way to demonstrate their understanding of the vocabulary terms. The app was very successful with students and it was recreated into several other versions that each matched their subject's print materials. This app was released as a companion to Pearson's Interactive Science book.
View in App Store
My Role
Following Apple's best practice guidelines and working closely with the instructional designer, I created a set of wireframes that demonstrated the general user interface as well as the gameplay for Word Fly. The developer and I nailed down the rules and interactions for the game and I quickly switched gears to visual design. This application was designed to be an addition to the Interactive Science text book already in print. Working with the art director, I gain access to the original files of the cover art. Although I originally sketched a frog; the cover of the book featured a chameleon, so this served as our main character in Word Fly. I cut the photographs up and used them to create all the animation and design that make up the game's interface. I saw an opportunity to do something new because we were short on budget; so I also created the sound effects and the music loop that plays during the game.