Investigation Zone Redesign — Game-Based Learning Platform & UX System
Organisation
JSW - Museum of Solutions
Team
Content & Exhibits
Role
UI/UX & Strategy
Overview
Investigation Zone is an interactive, escape room-inspired space at the Museum of Solutions (MuSo). Designed for groups of 4–5 children aged 7+, it immerses participants in real-world missions that unfold across themed environments—such as the Dark Room, Science Lab, Video HQ, and Locker Room—each requiring observation, collaboration, and critical thinking.
From flooding in Mumbai to internet blackouts and coral reef collapse, each mission engages kids with a timely challenge and lets them solve it hands-on. The digital layer of the experience is centered around a Control Station that drives the gameplay via quiz prompts and mission progression.
What I did
RFP & Systems Thinking - The project began with a comprehensive Request for Proposal (RFP) I authored, outlining the vision for a modular quiz-based system integrated with multiple physical zones. The RFP defined user flows, quiz configuration, interface moodboards, and CMS features—including multi-language support, media input, and real-time feedback logic.
Interaction Design & UI Development - I designed the Control Station interface—used by groups to receive questions, track progress, and complete missions. The UI was touch-friendly, stylized with sci-fi themes to elevate immersion, and adaptable across missions.
Main Game: The interactive and customizable detective storyline based quiz game.
Player Self-registration: An interface for players/visitors to self-register themselves for the Investigation Zone.
Photo Booth: A station where players who successfully complete their mission, take their victory photo.
CMS Design & Scalability - We introduced an EMS that allows administrators to:
Create and deploy mission-specific quizzes
Configure question types, media, and timers
Manage quiz archives and preview before launch
Eventually scale into a Master CMS for the entire museum’s digital exhibits
External Collaboration & Handoff - I collaborated closely with Noesis, the dev partner, ensuring our documentation, design specs, and CMS logic translated cleanly into development. This included handing off prototypes, supporting QA, and planning for future extensibility.
Methods
Design for Children, UX/UI Design, Interactive Prototype, System Architecture, User Research, Usability Testing, Project Management, Wireframes
Design Goals
Game Front End
Objective: Design an immersive, child-friendly quiz experience integrated within a physical escape-room-style environment.Created a touch-based, sci-fi-inspired UI that guides children through missions with minimal facilitator input.
Defined narrative pacing and screen states to support different challenge types (e.g., timers, hints, feedback).
Designed an interface logic system that aligns with real-world cues, props, and mission milestones.
Ensured accessibility and cognitive ease for mixed-age groups with varying reading and comprehension levels.
Embedded subtle gamification (progress bars, team feedback, victory moments) to enhance engagement and clarity.
CMS Back End
Objective: Build a scalable, non-technical admin interface to configure and manage mission-based quiz content.Authored the original RFP outlining modular CMS capabilities including multi-mission support and media-rich input types.
Defined a role-based workflow that allowed museum teams to create, preview, and archive mission content without developer intervention.
Designed a quiz templating system with support for multiple languages, timer logic, and media embeds.
Proposed a Master CMS architecture for long-term integration across all MuSo digital exhibits.
Facilitated collaboration with external dev teams by providing system maps, documentation, and UX flows for seamless handoff.
Key Challenges
Designing Play Autonomy for Customers as well as the Backend Team
Reimagining the experience from a scalability and flexibility point of view.
Missions had to be solvable by children without adult help, yet deeply educational.
Ensured UI, space cues, and challenge design minimized confusion and facilitator dependence.
The new system architecture should allow the MuSo team to develop and load new mission on the go.
Outcome
Improved User Autonomy: Enabled children to navigate missions independently with minimal facilitator intervention through intuitive UI and mission flow design.
Real-Time Data Insights: Designed back-end data touchpoints to track participation, performance, and drop-off rates for iterative exhibit improvement.
Future-Proofed Digital Layer: Established a foundation for expanding the digital infrastructure across MuSo, including integration with upcoming exhibits and zones.
Modular System Architecture: Delivered a scalable system that allows quick deployment of new missions without rewriting code or altering core logic.
UI Prototypes
Main Game
Photo Booth
Player Self-Registration
Video Station
💡The NEW Investigation Zone system is live now, onsite, at the Museum of Solutions.
