I don't like Duolingo's sad owl and I have felt guilt tripped. I'm not sure how I feel about it though. Currently my Duo is showing off his very big muscles. That makes me feel happier, so yes I guess it is having an affect. I want to keep him strong. That's a real good model you have provided, I could even find a use for it myself.
It’s funny how these little things in apps can affect our emotions, isn’t it? From feeling guilt-tripped by a sad owl to being motivated by one with muscles - it’s wild how they find ways to keep us engaged!
As usual, the writing is very insightful! I just encountered that exact problem when presenting my design alternatives to stakeholders. I'll definitely try using the tool the next time I face this situation again! Thanks for sharing!
Conceptually I think Duolingo’s case is a genius growth strategy. Execution wise, they could’ve done it better. Maybe they could make the sad owl look less ugly but still convey the message, like only make it a frown face for example. The old and sad one does look too extreme.
Thanks for posting this mas! It reminded us to always think about ethics in design.
I don't like Duolingo's sad owl and I have felt guilt tripped. I'm not sure how I feel about it though. Currently my Duo is showing off his very big muscles. That makes me feel happier, so yes I guess it is having an affect. I want to keep him strong. That's a real good model you have provided, I could even find a use for it myself.
It’s funny how these little things in apps can affect our emotions, isn’t it? From feeling guilt-tripped by a sad owl to being motivated by one with muscles - it’s wild how they find ways to keep us engaged!
As usual, the writing is very insightful! I just encountered that exact problem when presenting my design alternatives to stakeholders. I'll definitely try using the tool the next time I face this situation again! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Joesak! I'm glad to hear the tool is useful for you!
Likewise, Gilang! Ethics is a complex topic. 😆
Yeah, it’s interesting, altering the expressions of the mascot could have a different impact, I imagine!
Conceptually I think Duolingo’s case is a genius growth strategy. Execution wise, they could’ve done it better. Maybe they could make the sad owl look less ugly but still convey the message, like only make it a frown face for example. The old and sad one does look too extreme.
Thanks for posting this mas! It reminded us to always think about ethics in design.