Meet the Sea Turtles: Interactive Learning at the Virginia Aquarium
Overview
The Turtle Tank Kiosk was developed for the Virginia Aquarium to provide an engaging and educational experience for visitors, especially children. The kiosk features an interactive game inspired by Flappy Bird, allowing kids to navigate a turtle through obstacles while learning fun facts about sea turtles.
Goal
The goal of the kiosk is to create an interactive and educational encounter that captivates young visitors at the Virginia Aquarium. By combining engaging gameplay with informative content, the kiosk aims to enhance the visitor experience, and inspire the next generation to take an active role in protecting ocean ecosystems.
Skills
Web Design
UI/UX
Research
The research phase of the Turtle Tank Kiosk project centered on understanding user needs and designing an engaging experience for children and their families. The key challenges were maintaining engagement, simplifying navigation for younger users, and ensuring educational content was digestible without overwhelming them. The decision to use a Flappy Bird-inspired mechanic was to balance fun with ease of use. I also tested early design concepts through informal feedback sessions, iterating on layout, readability, and interactive elements to ensure a seamless and enjoyable experience for all users.
Game
To ensure the Turtle Tank Kiosk was both engaging and accessible for young visitors, I selected a game mechanic inspired by Flappy Bird due to its simplicity, intuitive controls, and high replayability. The tap-to-fly mechanic is easy to grasp for children of all ages, reducing the learning curve and allowing players to immediately engage with the experience. Unlike complex games that require extensive instructions, this design keeps interactions minimal while maintaining an exciting level of challenge, keeping users entertained while learning. The gameplay also aligns thematically with sea turtles’ natural swimming motion, reinforcing the educational aspect in a fun and immersive way.
Turtle Facts
The educational component of the Turtle Tank Kiosk was designed to be both engaging and informative. Topics cover key aspects such as each turtle’s habitat, diet, physical characteristics, and conservation status, offering insights into their roles in the ocean ecosystem. Interactive elements, including a 3D model for each species, provide a hands-on learning experience that allows children to examine turtle anatomy up close and visualize differences among species.
Green Sea Turtle
Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
Wireframes
Conclusion
The Turtle Tank Kiosk combined interactive play with education, creating a memorable experience for young visitors at the Virginia Aquarium. By integrating a fun game, 3D models, and engaging facts, the kiosk encourages children to learn about sea turtles and the importance of marine conservation. Overall, the Turtle Tank Kiosk enriches the aquarium’s educational offerings and promotes a lasting appreciation for marine ecosystems.
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Virgina Aquarium Turtle Kiosk
An engaging kiosk with a playful, ocean-inspired UI, featuring a Flappy Bird-style game, 3D turtle models, and interactive facts to educate visitors on sea turtles.
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Grow it.
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Sell it.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
