Learning felt like another work task.
I built Shamrin Valley where lessons unlock places, characters and rewards.
Upvrd is a learning app for people at work. Shamrin Valley is the game world inside it, where finishing lessons unlocks new places and characters.
When learning feels like a chore, people skip it and the training never lands.
Deciding each mascot’s role before drawing it
Tatelle guides the learner and Nilli carries messages. Trillo finds treasure while Partho offers insight and Mishka brings play. Attitude, movement and expression came only after I had settled each role.
Translating game theory into missions and chapters
I led animation and game design. Two frameworks shaped every mission and chapter: Octalysis, which maps eight motivations behind games, and the Hook Model, a loop of trigger, action, reward and investment that builds habits.
I worked with the founder, a PM, an animator and interns. They recognised learning’s difficulty but couldn’t see an impactful solution, so I brought gamification frameworks proven in real use. I argued against fear, because failing is acceptable and fear drives people off an already difficult path.
Opening with the learner instead of a task list
A guide character asks each learner about their goals, strengths and fears during onboarding.
Codifying prompts so every location belongs to one world
Reusable prompts for Midjourney, an AI image generator, and a palette for each stage let locations differ without leaving Shamrin Valley.
Giving rewards a purpose beyond the app
Learners could turn the grains they earned into donations. The app earned funding from Apollo Pharmacies India.
Building a world that grows
Staged reveals let every new course open a new place in the same world. The codified prompts keep that world consistent, whoever generates it.