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Glow

LEAD PRODUCT DESIGNER

Amazon Glow is a new-to-world video calling device with an interactive projector that lets kids read, create, and play with family and friends, wherever they are.

TIMELINE

Apr 2020 - Oct 2021

PLATFORMS

Hardware, firmware, iOS, Android

Setting kids up for success

The challenge:

Unlike a capacitive touch screen, Glow’s unique input modality can be impacted by errant objects, elbows and sleeves, and certain hand postures.  Resulting in confusion and frustration for pre-literate kids.

 

Learn About Glow sets kids up for success by teaching them how to place their mat, clear it for play, and uses a “feed the fish” interactive moment to teach correct hand placement. We believe kids will be delighted by Learn About Glow because playtesting with 6 kids in May 2022 received positive feedback (not to mention smiles and giggles!).

11K

More than 11,000 kids connected with loved ones, 80% with more than one person.

CUSTOMERS

4.5

Increased device rating from 3.8 to 4.5 stars

DEVICE RATING

4.1

Increased app rating from 3.6 to 4.1 stars

APP RATING

AWARDS

Results

Glow

LEAD PRODUCT DESIGNER

Amazon Glow is a new-to-world video calling device with an interactive projector that lets kids read, create, and play with family and friends, wherever they are.

TIMELINE

Apr 2020 - Oct 2021

PLATFORMS

Hardware, firmware, iOS, Android

Connecting kids with adults who love them

Kids who regularly interact with at least one caring adult, especially through play, benefit from improved behavioral and social-emotional skills and academic achievement in early childhood and beyond. 

Our mission is to create a network of caring adults for kids aged 3-9, such as grandparents, aunts and uncles, or traveling parents. Glow fosters meaningful connections through shared games and activities, making kids and their loved ones feel as if they're in the same room, regardless of physical distance. 

Learning a new technology—setting kids up for success

During Glow's invitation only phase, it became clear that kids expected Glow to work the same way as the tablet screens they're used to. Since Glow uses projection technology, if the mat shifts, gets wrinkled, or there are objects like markers or toys on the mat, it can cause frustration for kids when unexpected touches occur in the projected space.

To help kids better understand how Glow works, I led a team of 5 art directors and artists, and partnered with independent game developer F84 to create a game for first-time users, called 'Learn About Glow'. The activity sets kids up for success by teaching them how to place their mat, clear it for play, and uses a “feed the fish” interactive moment to teach correct hand placement. I designed the end-to-end game flow, directed the overall concept, and acted as both the line producer and creative producer, ensuring the activity was delivered on time and within budget. 

 

After play testing the activity with kids aged 3-8, we saw even the youngest kids adjust their hand placement based on the animated instructions, and even came back to feed the fish again and again. 

Improving setup for grandparents

During the invitation-only launch of Glow, it became clear week over week that remote family members were struggling to set up the companion app. With a 66% drop-off rate, kids were paying the price for a confusing setup process. 

After reading through customer data from multiple sources, I identified key areas of opportunity and facilitated 4 cross-functional workshops to establish specific improvements, design detailed flows and requirements, and develop a 6 week implementation plan. By focusing the team on a single opportunity area, we were able to deliver a simpler, more effective app setup process, improve conversion rate, and take the app setup process from a top 3 detractor to a non-issue at public launch. 

Shaping the future

The challenge:

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