Process Breakdown
Click photos for more details
Ideation Process
Asset Creation
Characters and their respective languages
As a Duolingo user, the animations throughout the app cannot go unnoticed. Based on my research, Duolingo uses Rive for their animations which allows them to rig their characters with small file sizes. While the animation process for this app is detailed, the art style seemed easy to replicate in After Effects.
However, it wasn't until I was almost 70% done with the project that I found out Duolingo actually has design rules they abide by for all their assets. Some examples are:
1. Eyes can be circular or rounded rectangles. No ovals.
2. Give shapes variation in weight.
3. 6 shapes for a character is too simple, 15 is good, 30 is too detailed.
I was lucky that my designs more or less matched the rules in their guidelines already; but, as you can see in the "Asset Creation" photo, I had to go back and make Sammy's rugby ball simpler.
In the end, it was gratifying to finish the project and see cartoon versions of my friends and I. Click the first photo to see my ideation process for creating them!