ID Design Project

Loop

  • Main Role

    Co-Project Manager

  • Date

    September 2024

  • Duration

    10 weeks

  • Team Size

    3

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Got just 30 seconds?

Quickly know what we did!

We designed Loop to tackle the English literacy gap in rural India by creating an affordable, interactive learning tool. With culturally resonant chapters, RFID-enabled pieces, and self-guided virtual tutors, we make learning immersive, culturally relevant, and personalized.

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My Role

As the Co-Project Manager, I led the research to deeply understand the problem space and guided the product’s future development. I also contributed to conceptualizing the product, shaping its branding, and ensuring overall cohesion.

Here’s a quick summary, if you are in a hurry!

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The Problem

Millions of children in rural India face significant barriers to English literacy due to limited resources, lack of infrastructure, and insufficient support, leaving their potential untapped and perpetuating cycles of educational inequality

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The Solution

We provide an engaging, accessible, and culturally relevant learning platform that empowers children to build foundational literacy skills, learn at their own pace, and gain confidence, while supporting broader community development.

Watch this video for a quick walk through of our product!

In this video, we explore Setu, a thoughtfully designed platform that addresses key challenges in design portfolio development.

Still want to read more? Here you go!

Context

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In India, 196 million children are enrolled in schools, yet only 20% of grade 3 students in rural India can read simple English sentences.

Imagine having something to say, but no words to say it with. Being full of potential, yet invisible to the world.

We wanted to create a product that answers a call no one hears. A product that bridges the gap between urban and rural communities, opening doors to equal opportunities for everyone.

A tool not just for learning, but for being seen, heard, and understood.

To begin, we needed to deeply understand the true scale and complexity of the problem.

Design Framework

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  • Emphatize

  • Understand

  • Specify

  • Ideate

  • Design

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Understanding the Problem

Before diving in, we had to first understand what literacy truly means and why it’s a cornerstone for opportunity, confidence, and lifelong learning.

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Literacy is the ability to read and speak with comprehension in any language.

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    To feel connected to English-speaking groups in India and around the world.

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    Knowing the language helps children access knowledge and tools that can enhance their learning and skills.

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    Giving them the same opportunities as their urban peers to thrive in a rapidly globalizing world.

Secondary Research

Exploring the problem space and gathering insights to deepen our understanding and inform meaningful solutions.

  • 3%

    of rural respondents stated they spoke english

  • 12%

    of urban respondents stated they spoke english

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  • Enrollment ≠ Learning

    Despite a 95% enrollment rate over the past 15 years, foundational literacy remains alarmingly low. Only 24.5% of students can form simple English sentences.

  • Students Are in School, But Not Learning

    73% of Grade 9 students struggle to read texts meant for Grade 2, revealing a massive learning gap that widens over time.

  • Lack of Teaching Resources & Support

    Remote schools suffer from a shortage of qualified teachers, high turnover, and few learning materials. This leaves students with minimal guidance and support.

Main Insights

From our surveys and interviews, we identified key insights,
recurring patterns, and quotes that shaped our understanding of
the problem and informed our initial approach.

Key Takeaway

In rural India, children may be enrolled in school, but a lack of resources, support, and systemic infrastructure means most are still struggling to learn, especially when it comes to foundational English literacy.

Conversations with NGOs

We spoke with three education-focused NGOs in India to uncover challenges and cultural contexts we could never have fully grasped on our own. Insights that shaped our understanding from the ground up.

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Unspecialized Teachers

Teachers in India in rural areas are not trained in English. They know the basics in terms of alphabets but cannot teach it at a higher level.

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Limited Resources

Due to lack of financial stability, many families in rural India cannot afford to buy anything more than the uniform, notebooks and some stationary.

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Lack of Family Support

Many families in rural areas are either first generational learners of illiterate in English. Therefore, it is very hard for parents to foster learning in English literacy.

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Single Teacher Schools

Lack of staff in rural schools results in one teacher teaching all subjects to multiple grade levels, often in a single classroom. This requires a teaching style that must adapt to many different learners.

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Learning, in Their Words

We spoke with 12 rural schoolchildren in India to understand how they experience English education and what they truly need to thrive.

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Post research Framwork

Boosting literacy and empowering communities in rural India, to cultivate a future of boundless opportunity and economic growth.

Target Audience

PRIMARY

Children aged 6–12 in rural India, who are currently enrolled in school but face barriers to foundational English literacy.

SECONDARY

Teachers, families, and community members in rural India, who play a critical role in shaping a child’s learning environment.

Meet The Personas!

Using insights from our research, we developed detailed personas that represents our target audience.

The Supportive Mother
The Overburdened Teacher
The Curious Learner
The Local Artisan
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Final Deliverable

Interactive Product + Campaign

Moodboarding

We developed a moodboard that consists of wireframes, color schemes and potential UI layouts.

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Branding

Color | Typography | Logo

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[Loop]

Symbolizes connection, continuity, and belonging which is the very foundations of meaningful learning.

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  • Pure White

    Conveys a calming effect and fosters a feeling of trust

  • Dark Pastel Green

    Boosts concentration for demanding or difficult tasks

  • Crayola Blue

    Evokes a sense of openness and tranquility

  • Citrine Yellow

    Helps retain information better and is the powerhouse of energy

Essential Learning Features

Based on our research insights, we identified key learning features the product must include to make English education effective, engaging, and accessible for children in rural India.

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Product Exploration

Guided by our list of must-haves, we began brainstorming various product ideas and forms. As our thinking evolved, the concept gained direction and gradually took shape as a 3D model.

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Feature Prioritisation

We created a final list of essential features to ensure the product meets user needs effectively. This helped us move toward finalising the product’s form, functionality, and other design requirements with clarity and focus.

  • Culturally Relevant Characters

  • Interactive Storytelling

  • Task-based Learning

  • Multi-sensory Learning

  • Visual Imagery & Times Indications

Creating a Micro-Economy

Loop is manufactured locally using bamboo wood. India is the second-largest producer of bamboo in the world.

By sourcing and producing locally, we are:

  • Creating jobs within rural communities

  • Empowering artisans and small-scale manufacturers

  • Developing new skills through training and production processes

  • Generating consistent income for underserved populations

Generating consistent income for underserved populations

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Iterations After Feature Finalisation

We analysed key insights given by users and reviewed our features, refining our product into their final designs.

Before

  • Box format was too complex

  • Served only 1–2 students

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After

  • Simplified to a rectangular box with fold-out features

  • Designed for group use, serving 7–8 students in classrooms

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Before

  • All chapters were included in a single kit, making it overwhelming and hard to navigate

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After

  • Introduced modular chapter kits with custom landscapes, character costumes, and RFID-enabled connection pieces for easier use and clearer storytelling

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Before

  • All chapters were included in a single kit, making it overwhelming and hard to navigate

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After

  • Introduced modular chapter kits with custom landscapes, character costumes, and RFID-enabled connection pieces for easier use and clearer storytelling

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Before

  • The teacher had to operate the kit and keep students engaged throughout

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After

  • Introduced culturally relevant, self-guided tutors that lead children through each chapter independently

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Final product

Display of final posters

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Integrated features

Key features we implemented to make the product effective, engaging, and accessible for children in rural India.

Interactive screen

LED screen with culturally rich chapter-based learning.

Tasks rooted in Indian customs making learning engaging, relevant and retentive.

Progressive learning: starting with basic vocabulary, then developing sentences and finally conversing in English.

Visual Landscape

Visual landscapes for immersive learning with word-to-image connections.

Each chapter's landscape includes interactive, culturally inspired objects or beings.

Students match each piece to its translated word, activating the screen and bringing Maya and Raju to life.

Self-guided Tutors

Culturally related literacy guides, Maya and Raju, lead each chapter.

Maya teaches in Hindi, while Raju mentors in English, assigning tasks and guiding students through interactive learning.

Live Spell Assist

A spelling board where students can spell out words displayed on the screen, receiving instant feedback on accuracy.

Interactive word landscape for spelling.

Learnings

No project is ever easy. Each challenge pushes you, teaches you, and transforms you. Here’s what Loop taught me. Lessons I couldn’t have learned any other way.

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    Challenge 1: Truly Understanding the Target Audience

    Coming from a different educational background, I initially underestimated how complex and overwhelming traditional English learning is for children in rural India.

    Learning

    Immersing myself in field research and interviews helped me shift perspective, to see learning not through my lens, but through theirs.

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    Challenge 2: Merging Features Without Overcomplicating

    In our early stages, we tried to pack everything(chapters, characters, audio, and interaction)into one unified kit, which quickly became confusing and impractical.

    Learning

    I learned the value of modularity. Breaking down the product into clear, self-contained chapters helped simplify the experience for both children and educators.

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    Challenge 3: Balancing Serious Purpose with Child-Friendly Design

    We wanted the product to reflect the seriousness of literacy as a life-changing tool but not at the cost of joy, imagination, and approachability for kids.

    Learning

    I discovered that thoughtful branding can do both: using culturally relevant characters, warm visuals, and a playful tone made Loop inviting without losing its impact.

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