cora

YEAR

Spring 2022

DURATION

6 weeks

TOOLS

Figma, After Effects

DESIGN SOLUTIONS

Interaction Design, Animation System, Character Design

cora

YEAR

Spring 2022

DURATION

6 weeks

TOOLS

Figma, After Effects

DESIGN SOLUTIONS

Interaction Design, Animation System, Character Design

cora

YEAR

Spring 2022

DURATION

6 weeks

TOOLS

Figma, After Effects

DESIGN SOLUTIONS

Interaction Design, Animation System, Character Design

cora

YEAR

Spring 2022

DURATION

6 weeks

TOOLS

Figma, After Effects

DESIGN SOLUTIONS

Interaction Design, Animation System, Character Design

important project highlight goes here
important project highlight goes here
important project highlight goes here
important project highlight goes here

CHALLENGE

CHALLENGE

Based on the 90s Tamagotchi, Cora reimagines a modern virtual pet simulation. Key constraints included designing a 2D experience on a non-touch screen device smaller than a phone, using physical controls with no more than five inputs to trigger eight unique activities.

CONCEPT

CONCEPT

Serving as the primary feedback mechanism, Cora clearly demonstrates her current status, emotions, and movement through various visual cues. Cora is a friendly chameleon in a jungle, designed to promote positivity.

STRATEGY

STRATEGY

Focusing on a cohesive storyline, I streamlined complex workflows into a single, unified path, ensuring every interaction seamlessly progressed within the experience. This approach simplified user actions and maintained narrative consistency.

EXPERIENCE

EXPERIENCE

Prioritizing user control to minimize errors, users can freely navigate between activities and exit any operation, providing timely feedback and unique messaging (especially before destructive actions). An introductory screen and sound effects added to the immersive feel.

Figma was the necessary tool to create complex 2D animations and character movements while ensuring user freedom.

Figma was the necessary tool to create complex 2D animations and character movements while ensuring user freedom.

INTERACTION DESIGN

INTERACTION DESIGN

The interface was developed around a tactile and believable user experience. The buttons felt authentically pressed and released, with timing and rhythm contributing to a heightened sense of interactivity.

The menu design intentionally mimicked real-world camera controls to leverage user mental models and promote user control. Continuity was maintained by setting all activity screens within a single jungle environment.

CHARACTER DESIGN

CHARACTER DESIGN

Cora's design prioritized high expressiveness across her eight unique activities, clearly demonstrating her current status and emotions to the user. Her playfulness created a more engaging and relatable character.

The emphasis on color is parallel to a chameleon's camouflage and was used to add personality, wonder, and emotional communication during activities.

RESULTS

RESULTS

This project validates the technical development for translating a complex workflow into a highly intuitive and cohesive narrative experience, achieving a strong behavioral match between the system and the real world.

REFLECTION

REFLECTION

Prioritizing hierarchy and Gestalt principles as the backbone of design ensured that every user action was intuitive. The use of components and variants for all animations was a valuable technical takeaway to maintain user control, minimize errors, and maintain a simplified experience for the user.

Prioritizing hierarchy and Gestalt principles as the backbone of design ensured that every user action was intuitive. The use of components and variants for all animations was a valuable technical takeaway to maintain user control, minimize errors, and maintain a simplified experience for the user.

CREDITS

CREDITS

RIT New Media Design

RIT New Media Design

Interactive II

Interactive II

Lecturer

Prof. Mike Minerva

Prof. Mike Minerva

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lysbord

ae

alexa contreras

graphic + interactive + experience designer

© Alexa Contreras 2025. All Rights Reserved.

explore

lysbord

ae

alexa contreras

graphic + interactive + experience designer

© Alexa Contreras 2025. All Rights Reserved.

explore

lysbord

ae

alexa contreras

graphic + interactive + experience designer

© Alexa Contreras 2025. All Rights Reserved.

explore

lysbord

ae

alexa contreras

graphic + interactive + experience designer

© Alexa Contreras 2025. All Rights Reserved.

explore

lysbord

ae

alexa contreras

graphic + interactive + experience designer

© Alexa Contreras 2025. All Rights Reserved.