DOS TWO INTERACTIVE BILINGUAL GAMES CASE STUDY
DOS TWO INTERACTIVE BILINGUAL GAMES CASE STUDY
DOS TWO INTERACTIVE STORYBOOK CASE STUDY
Product
DOS TWO Bilingual Games
Timeline
September 2024 - May 2025
Teammates
Fin - Lead Game Designer
Avery - Game Artist
Helena- Lead Animator
Mara - Lead Illustrator
Alexandra - Game Developer
Henry - Game Developer
Tools
Figma, Procreate, Adobe After Effects, Phaser Editor, React, Javascript
THE PROBLEM
THE PROBLEM
After reading the interactive book, kids often struggle to retain new vocabulary — especially in a second language — when there’s no engaging way to reinforce it. Traditional review methods can feel repetitive, passive, or disconnected from the story.
After reading the interactive book, kids often struggle to retain new vocabulary — especially in a second language — when there’s no engaging way to reinforce it. Traditional review methods can feel repetitive, passive, or disconnected from the story.
Most kids' bilingual reading resources focus on grammar and vocabulary, but overlook storytelling and cultural identity — making language learning feel like a chore rather than a connection. For many Latin American kids in the U.S., Spanish can feel intimidating, especially when it’s not reflected in the media they love.
THE SOLUTION
THE SOLUTION
THE SOLUTION
We designed three interactive games that turn vocabulary practice into play.
We designed three interactive games that turn vocabulary practice into play.
We designed three interactive games that turn vocabulary practice into play.
Game 1: Memory Cards
Match English and Spanish word pairs to strengthen vocabulary and language recall.
Game 2: Word Crafter
Build words from story-related letters to reinforce spelling and context in both languages.
Game 3: Match and Learn
Connect words to images from the story to boost comprehension and visual recognition.
Game 1: Memory Cards
Match English and Spanish word pairs to strengthen vocabulary and language recall.
Game 2: Word Crafter
Build words from story-related letters to reinforce spelling and context in both languages.
Game 3: Match and Learn
Connect words to images from the story to boost comprehension and visual recognition.
Game 1: Memory Cards
Match English and Spanish word pairs to strengthen vocabulary and language recall.
Game 2: Word Crafter
Build words from story-related letters to reinforce spelling and context in both languages.
Game 3: Match and Learn
Connect words to images from the story to boost comprehension and visual recognition.
DESK RESEARCH
DESK RESEARCH
DESK RESEARCH
Fin and Helena began by researching existing language games for children, looking at both physical formats like flashcards and board games, and digital experiences like apps and web learning tools.
Fin and Helena began by researching existing language games for children, looking at both physical formats like flashcards and board games, and digital experiences like apps and web learning tools.
Fin and Helena began by researching existing language games for children, looking at both physical formats like flashcards and board games, and digital experiences like apps and web learning tools.
Bananagram
🧠 Skill: Spelling, letter recognition, basic word building
✅ Inspiration: The idea of building words from loose letters influenced our Word Crafter game — but we simplified it for emerging readers by offering letter guidance, hints, and vocabulary from the storybook.
Bananagram
🧠 Skill: Spelling, letter recognition, basic word building
✅ Inspiration: The idea of building words from loose letters influenced our Word Crafter game — but we simplified it for emerging readers by offering letter guidance, hints, and vocabulary from the storybook.
Animal Puzzle Game
🧠 Skill: Visual matching, logical thinking, categorization
✅ Inspiration: The illustration-based card system influenced our Match & Learn game, where kids pair words with visuals from the story. Clear visual anchors are perfect for bilingual reinforcement at this age.
Animal Puzzle Game
🧠 Skill: Visual matching, logical thinking, categorization
✅ Inspiration: The illustration-based card system influenced our Match & Learn game, where kids pair words with visuals from the story. Clear visual anchors are perfect for bilingual reinforcement at this age.
Sentence Match Print Game
✏️ Skill: Reading comprehension, sentence structure
❌ Inspiration: After talking to Professor Michelle, we were informed that sentence-building game was above the level of K-1 kids. Therefore, we removed any game that deals with sentence building and structure.
Duolingo Sentence Builder
🌐 Skill: Translation, syntax, bilingual sentence formation
❌ Inspiration: Too advanced — best for older learners with reading experience.
Duolingo Sentence Builder
🌐 Skill: Translation, syntax, bilingual sentence formation
❌ Inspiration: Too advanced — best for older learners with reading experience.
Bilingual Puzzle Game
🧠 Skill: Word association, anatomy vocabulary, spatial reasoning. This physical puzzle lets kids match body parts to bilingual labels through hands-on interaction, making language learning visual and tactile.
❌ Inspiration: While it helps kids naturally absorb new words in context, our team figures implementing this game would be too challenging from the design and software engineering point of view.
Bilingual Puzzle Game
🧠 Skill: Word association, anatomy vocabulary, spatial reasoning. This physical puzzle lets kids match body parts to bilingual labels through hands-on interaction, making language learning visual and tactile.
❌ Inspiration: While it helps kids naturally absorb new words in context, our team figures implementing this game would be too challenging from the design and software engineering point of view.
Feppy Card Matching Game
🌐 Skill: Word recognition, memory, language association
✅ Inspiration: Excellent — simple mechanics (flipping cards to match pairs) make it highly accessible for early learners. This game validated the core of our Memory Cards — using familiar memory gameplay to make bilingual learning feel fun and achievable. We were inspired to use illustrations and emotionally expressive visuals (like the sun character) to help kids intuitively understand the meaning of each word across languages.
Feppy Card Matching Game
🌐 Skill: Word recognition, memory, language association
✅ Inspiration: Excellent — simple mechanics (flipping cards to match pairs) make it highly accessible for early learners. This game validated the core of our Memory Cards — using familiar memory gameplay to make bilingual learning feel fun and achievable. We were inspired to use illustrations and emotionally expressive visuals (like the sun character) to help kids intuitively understand the meaning of each word across languages.
RESEARCH SYNTHESIS
RESEARCH SYNTHESIS
RESEARCH SYNTHESIS
Based on our desk research and collaboration with bilingual teachers and Spanish professors, we made a focused decision to include just three games.
Based on our desk research and collaboration with bilingual teachers and Spanish professors, we made a focused decision to include just three games.
Based on our desk research and collaboration with bilingual teachers and Spanish professors, we made a focused decision to include just three games.
Card Matching Game
Visuals and Interactivity
Card Matching Game
Word Building Game
Word Building Game
Word Building Game
Picture x Word Match
Picture x Word Match
Picture x Word Match
BRAINSTORMING
BRAINSTORMING
BRAINSTORMING
Helena and Fin collaborated in FigJam to quickly sketch out different user flow concepts for integrating games into the reading experience.
Helena and Fin collaborated in FigJam to quickly sketch out different user flow concepts for integrating games into the reading experience.
Helena and Fin collaborated in FigJam to quickly sketch out different user flow concepts for integrating games into the reading experience.
❌ Idea 1: Mix different types of games throughout the story to create a dynamic, interactive reading journey.
❌ Idea 1: Mix different types of games throughout the story to create a dynamic, interactive reading journey.
✅ Idea 2: Keep the games in a separate tab, allowing kids to explore them independently after reading.
✅ Idea 2: Keep the games in a separate tab, allowing kids to explore them independently after reading.
❌ Idea 3: Introduce one type of game after each story section to reinforce vocabulary progressively as the story unfolds.
❌ Idea 3: Introduce one type of game after each story section to reinforce vocabulary progressively as the story unfolds.
We ultimately chose Idea 2 — placing the games in a separate tab — because it offered the clearest, most focused experience for young users.
We ultimately chose Idea 2 — placing the games in a separate tab — because it offered the clearest, most focused experience for young users.
We ultimately chose Idea 2 — placing the games in a separate tab — because it offered the clearest, most focused experience for young users.
LOW-FIDELITY PROTOTYPING
LOW-FIDELITY PROTOTYPING
LOW-FIDELITY PROTOTYPING
After clarifying the user flow and answer questions, Fin sketched and explored different concepts quickly on Figma
After clarifying the user flow and answer questions, Fin sketched and explored different concepts quickly on Figma
After clarifying the user flow and answer questions, Fin sketched and explored different concepts quickly on Figma
For the Word Builder game, we were inspired by the idea of constructing words from loose letters. Since K–1 kids may struggle to build words entirely on their own, we added a reference example (the greyed out letter) to guide them — giving them a clear starting point and helping them learn through supported play.
For the Word Builder game, we were inspired by the idea of constructing words from loose letters. Since K–1 kids may struggle to build words entirely on their own, we added a reference example (the greyed out letter) to guide them — giving them a clear starting point and helping them learn through supported play.
The concept behind the Card Flip Match game is simple: kids flip cards to find matching pairs of English and Spanish words, each paired with the same visual. Every flip triggers the word's pronunciation in the corresponding language, reinforcing vocabulary through both sound and repetition.
The concept behind the Card Flip Match game is simple: kids flip cards to find matching pairs of English and Spanish words, each paired with the same visual. Every flip triggers the word's pronunciation in the corresponding language, reinforcing vocabulary through both sound and repetition.
For the letter and card matching game, Fin experimented with layouts that placed large, bold words at the top and corresponding images at the bottom to support visual recognition. This layout is still open to iteration and refinement based on feedback from upcoming user testing.
For the letter and card matching game, Fin experimented with layouts that placed large, bold words at the top and corresponding images at the bottom to support visual recognition. This layout is still open to iteration and refinement based on feedback from upcoming user testing.
HIGH-FIDELITY PROTOTYPING
HIGH-FIDELITY PROTOTYPING
HIGH-FIDELITY PROTOTYPING
Fin, Avery, and Mara collaborated to create more complete visual assets for the prototype to conduct user testing.
Fin, Avery, and Mara collaborated to create more complete visual assets for the prototype to conduct user testing.
Fin, Avery, and Mara collaborated to create more complete visual assets for the prototype to conduct user testing.
For the Card Flip Match game, we repurposed object visuals from the interactive storybook to create a 6-card matching game. Using Figma’s advanced prototyping features, we simulated the flip interactions.
For the Card Flip Match game, we repurposed object visuals from the interactive storybook to create a 6-card matching game. Using Figma’s advanced prototyping features, we simulated the flip interactions.
For the Card Flip Match game, we repurposed object visuals from the interactive storybook to create a 6-card matching game. Using Figma’s advanced prototyping features, we simulated the flip interactions.
Avery designed a playful cat character animation that appears in the game whenever a child selects the correct answer, adding positive feedback and a fun reward to keep kids engaged.
Avery designed a playful cat character animation that appears in the game whenever a child selects the correct answer, adding positive feedback and a fun reward to keep kids engaged.
Avery designed a playful cat character animation that appears in the game whenever a child selects the correct answer, adding positive feedback and a fun reward to keep kids engaged.
Our stakeholders — including our professors and the author — emphasized the importance of including an explanation page before kids begin building words in both English and Spanish. This helps set clear expectations, offers guidance, and ensures young learners feel supported.
Our stakeholders — including our professors and the author — emphasized the importance of including an explanation page before kids begin building words in both English and Spanish. This helps set clear expectations, offers guidance, and ensures young learners feel supported.
Our stakeholders — including our professors and the author — emphasized the importance of including an explanation page before kids begin building words in both English and Spanish. This helps set clear expectations, offers guidance, and ensures young learners feel supported.
USER TESTING
USER TESTING
We then visited two first-grade classrooms at a bilingual school to test our concept with kids. Our goal was to observe how they interacted with the games, gather feedback, and assess its effectiveness
We then visited two first-grade classrooms at a bilingual school to test our concept with kids. Our goal was to observe how they interacted with the games, gather feedback, and assess its effectiveness
We then visited two first-grade classrooms at a bilingual school to test our concept with kids. Our goal was to observe how they interacted with the games, gather feedback, and assess its effectiveness
We divided the class into three groups, allowing each group to read through the book and play the games independently.
We divided the class into three groups, allowing each group to read through the book and play the games independently.
We divided the class into three groups, allowing each group to read through the book and play the games independently.
TESTING FEEDBACK
TESTING FEEDBACK
TESTING FEEDBACK
Kids and teachers appreciated the cat-reward animations, flying letters, playful use of bilingualism and reinforcement learning of the game design.
Kids and teachers appreciated the cat-reward animations, flying letters, playful use of bilingualism and reinforcement learning of the game design.
Kids and teachers appreciated the cat-reward animations, flying letters, playful use of bilingualism and reinforcement learning of the game design.
Kids were able to grasp the meanings of the word that they build in both English and Spanish.
Kids were able to grasp the meanings of the word that they build in both English and Spanish.
Kids were able to grasp the meanings of the word that they build in both English and Spanish.
ITERATION AND IMPROVEMENT
ITERATION AND IMPROVEMENT
Word Crafter Game
Word Crafter Game
Teacher Feedback: The words should be displayed in all lowercase letters rather than capitalized to better align with early literacy practices for K–1 learners.
Teacher Feedback: The words should be displayed in all lowercase letters rather than capitalized to better align with early literacy practices for K–1 learners.
❌
✅
✅
Kid Feedback: Kids felt the Word Builder game was a bit too easy with the reference example shown in the middle, therefore, we included a version without the reference after.
Kid Feedback: Kids felt the Word Builder game was a bit too easy with the reference example shown in the middle, therefore, we included a version without the reference after.
Kid Feedback: Kids felt the Word Builder game was a bit too easy with the reference example shown in the middle, therefore, we included a version without the reference after.
✅
✅
✅
Teacher Feedback: the letter colors should serve a purpose — such as highlighting syllables — to support phonemic awareness and help kids break down and pronounce words more effectively.
Teacher Feedback: the letter colors should serve a purpose — such as highlighting syllables — to support phonemic awareness and help kids break down and pronounce words more effectively.
Teacher Feedback: the letter colors should serve a purpose — such as highlighting syllables — to support phonemic awareness and help kids break down and pronounce words more effectively.
❌
✅
✅
B. Memory Card Game
B. Memory Card Game
B. Memory Card Game
Teacher Feedback: Including a brief tutorial before each game would help kids understand the rules and feel more confident before diving into the activity.
Teacher Feedback: Including a brief tutorial before each game would help kids understand the rules and feel more confident before diving into the activity.
Kid Feedback: Having different difficulty levels — like 6, 8, or 12 cards — would make the card matching game more fun and allow kids to challenge themselves as they improve.4o
Kid Feedback: Having different difficulty levels — like 6, 8, or 12 cards — would make the card matching game more fun and allow kids to challenge themselves as they improve.4o
ITERATION AND IMPROVEMENT
C. Match and Learn Game
C. Match and Learn Game
C. Match and Learn Game
We realized the previous design resembled a multiple-choice test, which felt too formal and academic. To make it more playful and engaging, we decided to redesign the interaction to feel more like connecting words
We realized the previous design resembled a multiple-choice test, which felt too formal and academic. To make it more playful and engaging, we decided to redesign the interaction to feel more like connecting words
❌
✅
✅
DEVELOPMENT
DEVELOPMENT
DEVELOPMENT
Once the interaction and design are finalized, we spec, ship and collaborate closely with student engineers to deliver the MVP of the games
Once the interaction and design are finalized, we spec, ship and collaborate closely with student engineers to deliver the MVP of the games
Once the interaction and design are finalized, we spec, ship and collaborate closely with student engineers to deliver the MVP of the games
In this stage, it is important to resolve questions in time and provide engineers with specifications regarding user flows, visual assets, and basic front-end code. Our team works with Alex and Hẻny to bring this to life.
In this stage, it is important to resolve questions in time and provide engineers with specifications regarding user flows, visual assets, and basic front-end code. Our team works with Alex and Hẻny to bring this to life.
In this stage, it is important to resolve questions in time and provide engineers with specifications regarding user flows, visual assets, and basic front-end code. Our team works with Alex and Hẻny to bring this to life.
FINAL PRODUCT
FINAL PRODUCT
FINAL PRODUCT
Take a moment to explore and play some games :)
Take a moment to play some games :)
You have reached the end! Take a moment to explore and play
Please use the "Expand" button on the top right corner to experience the book in full-screen mode!
Please use the "Expand" button on the top right corner to experience the book in full-screen mode!