Penguin Pal App
New England Aquarium
New England Aquarium
Penguin Pal is a solo UX/UI experience designed to reimagine the African penguin exhibit at the New England Aquarium by turning it into an emotionally resonant and educational digital journey for families. Created as part of a digital odyssey project, this work tackles the problem of shallow engagement by introducing features like step-tracking, climate data visualizations, emotional indicators, and donation pathways—all wrapped in a playful, illustrated interface. Inspired by my own visits to the aquarium and a desire to spotlight overlooked environmental narratives, I designed an app and site experience using Figma that guides users through penguin behavior, extinction risks, and ocean ethics without overwhelming them. The visual system—featuring crying penguins, silhouette illustrations, and clear calls to action like “Make a Change” and “Help Me!”—transforms data into something that feels personal and urgent. This project became a way for me to test how design can humanize animal experiences and turn passive visits into platforms for action, reflection, and empathy. Finalized in two and a half weeks, Penguin Pal deepened my skills in interface design while reaffirming the power of storytelling in spaces where education meets true advocacy.
