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Making maths playful, competitive, and confidence-boosting
Geek Buddy launched in 2021 as a mobile maths app for students aged 12–16, inspired by MyMaths. It let teachers assign interactive tasks that turned learning into play. In 2024, inspired by the success of Xiaoyuan Kousuan, I reimagined Geek Buddy as a platform built for confidence, competition, and fun. Students can now challenge peers in real-time maths duels or take on adaptive AI missions, earning streaks, badges, and skill points along the way.
Role
Product Designer
Client
Platform
Independent project
Mobile (iOS & Android)
Despite the abundance of maths resources online, students still struggle with motivation and engagement.
Through interviews with teachers and early beta users, I identified three recurring challenges:
Low motivation
Traditional maths platforms often rely on static exercises and repetitive formats that fail to keep learners interested.
Isolated learning
Maths is often treated as a solitary activity, but competition and collaboration are powerful motivators, especially for teenagers.
Weak feedback loops
Students rarely get real-time reinforcement or visible progress, leading to loss of confidence and disengagement.
Key features
Geek Buddy combines real-time maths battles, AI-powered solo missions, and a skill progression system that rewards growth through badges and XP. Teachers can easily assign and track progress through dedicated dashboards.
Menu
Level Up
Buddy section
2021
2025
The redesign
introduces a lighter, more playful identity, rounded edges, vibrant motion, and friendly typography that make maths feel open and engaging.
Early prototypes
Prototypes focused on simple, fast navigation and instant feedback, while onboarding helps students personalise goals and meet their animated “Buddy.”
GEEKBUDDY
Designing for engagement
Gamified visuals, sounds, and streak effects build momentum and confidence, turning maths into a rewarding, social experience.
Geek Buddy transforms maths practice from solitary repetition into a social, confidence-building experience.
By combining competition, creativity, and smart feedback, it redefines how young learners build skill and resilience, one challenge at a time.
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