Bringing Pok Pok to Android was a huge milestone for us in 2024.
Pok Pok, 2019-Present, iOS/Android
When I joined in 2019, Pok Pok was a small, spirited team fighting to bring Montessori-inspired play to a new format- mobile. As the first full-time dev on the project, I played a key role in collaboratively designing and implementing all front-end user experiences, including toys and the 'playroom' that connects them.
Shortly after releasing in 2021, we received an Apple Design Award for Delight and Surprise, a category which perfectly described our feelings!
Since then, I have led development. Mentoring our growing front-end development team has become a new passion, something I balance whilst designing and delivering toys in regular live-service updates.
Process
The team was distributed across Toronto and Belgium (where our directors live), meaning a substantial time difference and missing the 'physical presence' of key creative staff. To alleviate this, I employed 'high transparency' prototyping, where I provided constant footage and analyses of where the fun was emerging during exploration. This method yielded a massive uptick in communication across Slack and provided a way for our remote directors to keep their fingers on the pulse (something doubly important as they did not come from a games background). Distributing testing builds weekly rounded out this process, ensuring device readiness and relentless user testing.
Space released in early 2025 and was our most complex toy yet.
Contributions
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Lead Developer & Designer
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Roundtripped 6+ years of front-end live-service experiences alongside an intercontinental team
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"Dramatically improved" cross-timezone studio communication, bridged expertise, and unified team vision through rapid prototyping and high transparency in process
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'Found the fun' for over a dozen unique experiences, honed each to release-ready experiences
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Interviewed and mentored front-end development team
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Identified key risks, and provided mitigation strategies
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Tested prototypes with kids, iterating designs and implementation based on internal and external feedback
Number Journey is one of my favourite toys!
Reception
Pok Pok was received well by critics and families alike, and we've been deeply fortunate to receive a substantial amount of cool awards over the years:
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Apple Design Award, Delight and Surprise, 2021
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App Store Award, Cultural Impact, 2023
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As of writing, rated 4.6/5 on iOS and 4.8/5 on Android
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Academic's Choice Smart Media Award
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Parent Tested Parent Approved Award
Much love to the small and mighty team Pok Pok :)
I finally got to build the Dino toy I always wanted to, haha.