Social media and dating apps are popular spaces for long distance couples, with Hinge and Bumble being favourites among the target demographic. These platforms offer a great opportunity to introduce Ddaru, allowing couples to connect in a creative and spontaneous way as they get to know each other.

Long distance couples often reunite in hotspots like airports and stations, making these ideal locations to promote Ddaru. Marketing in these spaces can effectively reach the target audience and highlight how Ddaru helps couples stay connected in a fun and creative way, even when apart.

Research, ideation and development- As technology evolves, so do relationships. In 2024, 60% of couples met online, yet only 37% engage in virtual dates, weakening emotional connections, especially when physical connection is limited. A UX/UI solution tailored for couples could bridge this gap. A survey I conducted of long distance couples revealed major challenges: 64% with busy schedules and 26% lacked new ideas to stay connected. Most respondents (58%) were aged 20–22, likely balancing work or studies, making time and effort key obstacles.

To help, an app offering daily shared activities could keep couples engaged. Inspired by BeReal, it would prompt couples to do something new together each day, fostering connection through routine, creativity and shared moments. The theme was also inspired by the movie ‘Nerve’ a 2016 movie that contains a storyline of users participating on a game of truth or dare, with the more extreme the higher the money and fame is earned.

Couples can compete with other long distance couples to earn the title of “Darest Couple” through live streams, tournaments and private battles. Users earn points by enabling live notifications, completing daily dares on time with their partner and winning battles. Double points can be earned through optional challenges. Completing one dare per day with their partner is mandatory.

There are around 33,000 deaf children in schools across England, yet many are consistently let down by an education system that lacks deaf awareness, often leaving them feeling isolated and affecting their mental health. Despite British Sign Language (BSL) being officially recognised, it’s representation in schools remains limited.

Hands Up! is a card game designed to teach young children BSL through rhymes and signs. Games support learning by developing cognitive, social and physical skills, while rhymes enhance memory, making it an engaging and effective way for children to learn BSL.

Hands Up! is suitable for children aged 7 and up, with adult supervision encouraged for support with reading or signing. Feedback has been positive, children enjoyed the game and learned to sign their favourite animals and foods. During observation, many were able to guess the correct signs just by hearing the rhymes, showing strong engagement and learning.

Children spend most of their week in school, often passing through school safety zones signs and pathways designed for them. Hands Up! is well suited for displaying playful visuals in these areas, sparking curiosity in both children and adults. “Banana or Cheese?”, is one of the food prompts featured in Hands Up!, where players are encouraged to either guess the correct answer or sign it in BSL. Hands Up! is also advertised in London transports such as the Piccadilly Tube line, one of the most popular lines with key destinations such as King’s Cross St Pancras, Leicester Square and Heathrow Airport.

Research, ideation and development- Currently, there are few engaging games that teach British Sign Language to children, which can disadvantage their deaf peers and create communication barriers in classrooms. In an interview with a 22 year old deaf individual, they suggested that an ideal game would involve acting and drama, encouraging children to use facial expressions and body language without speaking. They emphasised that facial expressions made learning BSL more fun and memorable for them.

Hands Up! draws inspiration from the card game Obama Llama, which combines rhyming and acting. Similarly, this game uses rhymes and expressive signing to make BSL learning playful and inclusive.

While at Loughborough University, I took on projects both within and beyond my coursework. As the Enterprise representative for my campus hall, I led the design and production of custom merchandise for over 200 incoming students. Feel free to explore the work below.

I undertook the D&AD New Blood brief for Wise which was a feature in the app called ‘Wise Assistant’ that aids seniors into managing their finances from their loved ones abroad as well as understanding the digital payment methods as it significantly increases today.