One Language at a Time
DANAHOOSH
Bridging Generations
Project
Overview
Description
View Prototype
Danahooosh embarked on a mission to create an immersive learning experience tailored for Persian immigrant families. This initiative aimed to develop a user-centric application that serves as a bridge for children to connect with their cultural roots and language, addressing the challenge of preserving linguistic and cultural heritage within the diaspora.
Problem
Statement
The scarcity of engaging and effective tools for Farsi education among children of Persian immigrants was pinpointed as a significant barrier to cultural preservation. This gap threatened the continuity of linguistic and cultural identity among Persian communities abroad.
Solution
The aim was to design an intuitive application that not only facilitates the learning of Farsi but also encapsulates the essence of Persian culture. Danahooosh was envisioned to offer a comprehensive educational tool that enriches the learning experience with cultural narratives and traditions, fostering a deeper connection with the language.
Build a bridge that connects grandparents with their grandchildren through the shared use of their native language and cultural heritage.
Challenge
Design an app that engages children in learning Persian within a cultural framework, employing varied teaching methods like animated books to impart cultural values.
Project Goal
For this project, my responsibilities spanned from conducting interviews and market research to user testing and executing several design iterations.
Responsibility
Timeline
W1
W2
W3
W4
W5
W6
W7
W8
W9
Discovery & Define
Ideate & Design
Test
This project was a collaborative effort between two designers, we worked through various phases of the design process, leveraging our combined expertise to ensure the project's success.
Team
Tools
The design process for our project was meticulously structured to ensure a comprehensive understanding and innovative solution to the user's needs
Design Process
Discovery
Market research
Survey
Interview
Define
Affinity Diagram
Card sorting
Persona
Ideate
Sketches
Storyboard
Design
Low Fidelity
High Fidelity
Clickable prototype
Test
Usability Test
Iteration
Market Research
Our market research began with identifying the landscape of language learning apps, with a particular focus on those catering to children and incorporating cultural education. Through analyzing competitors, we identified a gap in the market: there were limited options for Persian language learning, especially ones that integrated cultural elements in a child-friendly manner.
Limited Persian learning apps
Focus on gamification
High demand for culture integration
Importance of storytelling, music
Trend towards personalized learning
Survey
We conducted an online survey targeting Persian immigrant families, gathering insights from over 50 respondents to identify common educational needs and preferences to illuminate key patterns in language learning and cultural engagement.
Sample Questions
What is the age of your child/children?
6 months to 1 year
5%
1 to 2 years
25%
2 to 3 years
40%
3 to 6 years
30%
Which platform your child's Interact with the most?
Tablet
20%
TV
50%
Mobile
30%
Desktop
0%
How much time do you dedicate to teaching your child?
Lass than one hour
50%
More than one hour
40%
No Specific time
10%
What is the speaking level of your child in Farsi?
Not Good
23%
Fair
27%
Very Good
32%
Good
18%
Interview
After gathering initial insights from our questionnaire, we decided to deepen our understanding by conducting field interviews with potential users. These interviews aimed to explore the nuances of how Persian immigrant families engage with language and cultural education, their preferences, challenges, and what they seek in an educational tool.
Interview Template
Introduction
Begin with a brief introduction of yourself and the purpose of the interview.
Explain how the insights gathered will contribute to the development of the Danahoosh app.
Assure the participant of the confidentiality of their responses.
Interview Questions:
Can you tell me a bit about your family's background and your child's exposure to the Persian language and culture?
What methods are you currently using to teach your child Persian? (e.g., books, apps, storytelling)
What are the biggest challenges you face in teaching Persian to your child?
What features do you think are essential in an app designed to teach Persian to children?
How important is it for you that the app includes cultural stories, music, or history?
What keeps your child engaged and motivated while learning a new language?
Does your child have a preferred learning style (visual, auditory, kinesthetic) that an app should cater to?
How involved do you prefer to be in your child's language learning process?
What kind of feedback or progress tracking would you like to see integrated into the app? Are there any other features or content you would find helpful in a Persian language learning app for children?
Conclusion:
Thank the participant for their time and valuable insights.
Explain the next steps and how their input will be used in the development process.
Offer to share updates on the project if they are interested.
Persona
Bio
Kimia is a 34-year-old part-time graphic designer and a full-time mom living in a suburban, culturally diverse community. Fluent in English and Farsi, she's passionate about passing on the Persian language and culture to her two young children. Kimia seeks creative, engaging ways to integrate learning into daily life, balancing her busy schedule with the goal of nurturing her children's bilingual abilities and cultural understanding. She values affordability, effectiveness, and the joy of learning, aiming to connect her family with their rich heritage and the wider Persian community.
Quote
"I want my children to embrace our rich culture and communicate with our family back home. Finding the right tool that captures their imagination and makes learning Farsi joyful is essential to me."
Challenges
Struggles to find time and resources that fit into her busy schedule to teach her children Farsi effectively.
Finds existing resources either too expensive, too advanced, or not engaging enough for her children.
Lacks a supportive community or network nearby to practice Farsi in a natural setting.
Goals
To teach her children Farsi, enabling them to communicate with their grandparents and extended family in Iran.
To ensure her children appreciate and understand their Persian heritage through language, stories, and traditions.
To find a balanced, interactive, and fun method for her children to learn Farsi without it feeling like a chore.
Frequently used apps
Empathy Mapping
"I want my children to be proud of their heritage and communicate freely with our family in Iran."
"Educational tools are either too expensive or not engaging enough."
"I wish there was an easier, more engaging way to teach my children about our culture."
"It's challenging to find the time and right resources for teaching Farsi that both my kids will enjoy."
Frustrated by the scarcity of suitable, affordable resources.
Concerned about children's cultural connection.
Hopeful for an engaging learning solution.
Overwhelmed by balancing responsibilities.
I wonder if my children will feel as connected to their Persian heritage as I do.
How can I make learning Farsi appealing to my kids without it feeling like a chore?
Searches for interactive Farsi learning tools.
Creates her own culturally rich materials.
Connects with other Persian families for support.
Evaluates various educational apps for engagement and effectiveness.
Say
Think
Feel
Does
User Journey Map
How May We (HMW)
In response to the insights gathered from Kimia's journey and the broader needs of Persian immigrant families looking to teach their children Farsi, the following "How Might We" (HMW) questions can help guide the ideation and development process for the Danahoosh app:
User Flow
Storyboard
This storyboard illustrates Kimia's journey from feeling overwhelmed to finding a fulfilling solution with Danahoosh, highlighting the app’s role in fostering cultural connections and language learning in a fun, engaging way.
Sketches
Sketching plays a pivotal role in app development, so we initiated this phase to visualize our concepts.
Low Fidelity
High Fidelity Design
Following the initial design of low-fidelity layouts and several iterations, we proceeded to refine and restructure our approach. This led us to develop high-fidelity prototypes, incorporating detailed designs and functionalities, to better represent the final product.
Project
Takeaway
During our research, we learned the value of being open to user insights, leading us to focus our app design on parents' concerns about their children's screen time. Despite grounding our approach in these findings, we chose to further enrich the app by blending research with creative enhancements, aiming to make it more engaging and trustworthy for users.
Next
Step
In the next phase of our project, it's crucial to meticulously sort and organize our collected data for greater efficiency. Post-information architecture, we'll iterate on more pages and wireframes, refining them after user testing to perfect the prototype for a pitch meeting. Additionally, with the app supporting both Persian and English, we'll focus on UX writing to ensure language inclusivity, choosing words that resonate well in both languages.