Spkeasy

Project Overview

Spkeasy is an interactive educational app and tool for children with speech impairments. By using Spkeasy, children can form and play sentences to give themselves a voice in a way they could not on their own. With many other features such as minigames, 3D interactive environments, in-app analytics, and more, Spkeasy is a well-rounded and multifaceted app.

My Role

I developed and implemented software and gameplay systems in Unity/C#, with a focus on game design, optimization, and developer tools. I also worked heavily in environmental design, lighting, sound design, and UI/UX to improve the application's presentation, performance, and user experience. Lastly, I led UI/UX development efforts by coordinating a UI/UX designer, establishing priorities, reviewing progress, communicating project decisions, and aligning design direction with product goals.

Design & Development

I worked on building out several minigames in the app, taking care to balance fun gameplay with educational content. I also worked on many 3D environments in the app. The main one currently available in the app is the Restaurant: a space for users to practice ordering food, explore, and chat with many NPCs I designed and implemented.

Challenges & Outcomes

Working on Spkeasy offered an interesting design challenge. I to balance functionality with accessibility for users with a wide range of needs and abilities, including differences in manual dexterity, visual and auditory comprehension, and age. My goal was to help ensure the app was intuitive and usable for as many people as possible.