Our product directions - #Blog6

This week, we continued refining the direction of our product. After mapping the user- product interaction timeline and improving our How Might We, we began narrowing down which concept we want to move forward with.

Our first idea involved two Tamagotchi-like creatures assigned to two classroom groups, each competing through tasks. We soon realized that competition motivates individuals rather than strengthening group cohesion, so we shifted toward a collaborative model driven by shared responsibility.

From there, we entered a challenging focusing stage. We had to balance big, ambitious ideas with what is realistic to build, fits the market, and feels right for teenagers. We also understood that a “toy-like” design might feel too childish, so we moved toward a creature-animal, plant, or neutral character that is engaging without being babyish.

We began conducting interviews, but this is only the start. In the coming weeks, talking to many more teens will be essential to validate our assumptions.

We also continued with our research work (seminar). We’ve really started to understand the depth of the problem and discovered many things on the academic side that we simply didn't know before. We received some feedback, and next week we will continue to research and refine our topic.

Our current product direction: A physical interactive creature designed for 8-10 children, featuring 10 touch ports that trigger collaborative tasks. The creature grows and evolves based on the group’s level of cooperation, promoting long-term social cohesion through feeding, conversation, and play. A companion app for facilitators and parents provides smart, data-driven support.

We feel the vision is becoming clearer - feasible, meaningful, and relevant for teens. More layers will unfold as we continue, and we’re excited for what’s ahead.