LAB RATS - STAR TRACK

Designing a companion app for a mobile planetarium, allowing children to explore space independently through interactive QR code scanning.

Problem

Star Track was a companion app designed to enhance the experience of Lab Rats' mobile planetarium shows for children aged 7–11. The planetarium provided an immersive space education experience, but there was a challenge: how could children explore key concepts at their own pace while retaining what they had learned during the show?

The solution was to develop an interactive iPhone app that allowed visitors to scan QR codes linked to celestial objects shown in the planetarium. By scanning a code, children could access additional information in real time, encouraging independent discovery while reinforcing key learning points.

The challenge was to design an app that was intuitive, engaging, and accessible to younger users, ensuring they could explore without getting frustrated or overwhelmed.

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Process

The design process focused on creating an experience tailored to young users, ensuring that navigation was intuitive and that content was presented in a way that felt both fun and informative. Given the diverse reading abilities of children in this age range, the interface relied on bold visuals, large tap targets, and structured content delivery to keep interactions simple and engaging.

The app was designed with a clear and guided user journey, allowing children to scan a QR code and instantly receive relevant information in a digestible format. Bite-sized educational cards were used to display key facts, accompanied by visuals, animations, and interactive elements to reinforce learning without overwhelming users.

Usability was a key consideration, ensuring that children could easily scan codes, navigate between topics, and engage with content without facilitator assistance. The design focused on keeping interactions friction-free and rewarding, encouraging children to continue exploring.

Iterations

Early testing provided insights into how children interacted with the app, highlighting areas where refinements were needed. QR scanning mechanics were adjusted to improve accuracy and responsiveness, ensuring that children received immediate feedback when scanning an object.

Content presentation was also refined to ensure clarity and readability, with adjustments made to font size, contrast, and text structure to make information more accessible. The interface was designed to balance playfulness with usability, incorporating subtle animations and progress indicators to maintain engagement and encourage continued discovery.

To keep children engaged, the experience was designed to be self-directed but structured, allowing them to explore at their own pace while still feeling guided.

Final Design

The final Star Track app provided a seamless, interactive extension of the planetarium show, allowing children to engage with space independently in a way that suited their learning style. The simple scan-to-learn approach gave users the freedom to discover at their own pace, while the bold, structured interface ensured that information was accessible and engaging.

By prioritising intuitive design, clear navigation, and engaging visuals, the app successfully bridged the gap between the immersive planetarium experience and independent learning, helping children deepen their understanding of space.

Impact

Star Track allowed children to interact with the planetarium content beyond the initial show, fostering curiosity and reinforcing key concepts. The app transformed passive observation into active engagement, giving young learners a tool that encouraged discovery, exploration, and retention of knowledge.

By designing an experience tailored to how children interact with digital content, Star Track successfully extended the impact of Lab Rats' mobile planetarium, making space exploration more interactive and accessible.

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LAB RATS - STAR TRACK

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UX & UI DESIGN

• LAB RATS - STAR TRACK • UX & UI DESIGN

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