Adventurer's Scroll

A gamified productivity app that builds intrinsic motivation and transforms studying into an endless personalized adventure.

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Role

Visual & product designer
Timeline

April 2020 - December 2023
Audience

Middle school students (ages ~11–14)
Tools

Figma, Procreate

Problem

Students are often driven by external pressure rather than curiosity to learn.

Middle school students often learn under parental pressure, grading systems, and standardized benchmarks, leading to compliance as opposed to curiosity.
High anxiety → lower sense of agency.

Middle school students often learn under parental pressure, grading systems, and standardized benchmarks, leading to compliance as opposed to curiosity.
Major productivity tools rely on discipline over engagement.

Most tools (Notion, Todoist, etc.) are designed for adults, relying on discipline over engagement. Their lack of imagination and reward loops misaligns with how Gen Z actually engages with the world, which is through storytelling, games, and social connections.

Research question

What if studying felt like progressing through a story instead of completing tasks?

Product highlights

Focus session + story progression loop

The user begins by setting up a checklist of tasks which they would execute in a Pomodoro-style focus session. With each task complete, they unlock a new segment of their story and are prompted to make a choice that determines how the narrative unfolds.

AI-based branching narrative system

The story itself is dynamically generated through AI, adapting to the choices users make. By continuously prompting the question “What happens next?”, the experience builds anticipation and encourages sustained engagement, allowing students to feel a sense of accomplishment in real time.

Reward economy

Users can earn coins through completed focus sessions, which can be exchanged for additional “script slots” and educational audio content.

Build momentum through peer-supported micro groups.

To introduce a social dimension without creating pressure, students can form small groups of up to four people, where they work toward shared weekly goals and unlock collective rewards.