Enerblox - MFA Thesis

Enerblox - MFA Thesis

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Energy education, reimagined.

To spark early interest in energy literacy, Enerblox was created. An interactive learning system where kids build their own virtual home energy setup using real-world inputs. By connecting physical energy sources and answering energy-related questions, children explore concepts like kW vs. kWh, time-of-use pricing, and energy budgeting through hands-on play and feedback-driven progress.

Outcome


  • Designed and developed as a thesis project at Purdue University.

  • Combines physical interaction with digital learning to teach key energy concepts.

  • Includes working MVP with a physical wind turbine + interactive quiz platform.

  • Successfully tested with children ages 6–12 for engagement and usability.

Role: Product Designer

Duration: 12 months

Team: Solo project with support from faculty advisors, child participants, parents and teacher survey groups.

Responsibility


  • Led the full product vision, user research, interaction design, and prototyping.

  • Designed both the physical turbine and digital UI/UX experience.

  • Conducted surveys and interviews with parents and children to inform the design.

  • Created curriculum-aligned energy content, quiz logic, and game progression system.

Experimenting it

We began by testing the transparent screen in a real kitchen environment—exploring how digital elements behave when overlaid on physical space.

These early experiments helped us understand depth, legibility, layering, and how users might naturally interact with AR content across a transparent surface.

Designing it

With spatial context in mind, we began shaping the UI for AR—exploring how to layer digital elements over physical kitchen scenes.

We tested different aspect ratios, including landscape and portrait formats, and used tools like Bezi to simulate early interactions. The design process focused on clarity, depth, and how to reveal appliance data and states without overwhelming the user.

Building it

Prototyped the stand setup to support the transparent display in a functional, full-scale environment.

Exploring the space

Mapped the spatial flow of the showroom, testing different placements for the screen, appliances, and user standing zones. Every layout decision shaped how the AR experience would be perceived.

The full case study is in progress…

The full case study is in progress…

Want a deeper look before it drops? Just reach out.

Want a deeper look before it drops? Just reach out.

IN PROGRESS IN PROGRESS IN PROGRESS IN PROGRESS IN PROGRESS
IN PROGRESS IN PROGRESS IN PROGRESS IN PROGRESS IN PROGRESS

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© 2025 All Rights Reserved. Design by Abolfazl Ghaderi

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© 2025 All Rights Reserved. Design by Abolfazl Ghaderi

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© 2025 All Rights Reserved. Design by Abolfazl Ghaderi