Bringing Pok Pok to Android was a huge milestone for us in 2024.
Pok Pok, 2019-Present, iOS/Android
When I joined in 2019, Pok Pok was a small, spirited team fighting to bring Montessori-inspired play to a new format- mobile. As the first full-time dev on the project, I played a key role in collaboratively designing and implementing all front-end user experiences, including toys and the 'playroom' that connects them.
Shortly after releasing in 2021, we received an Apple Design Award for Delight and Surprise, a category which perfectly described our feelings!
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Since then, I have led development. Mentoring our growing front-end development team has become a new passion, something I balance whilst designing and delivering toys in regular live-service updates.
Process
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The team was distributed across Toronto and Belgium (where our directors live), meaning a substantial time difference and missing the 'physical presence' of key creative staff. To alleviate this, I employed 'high transparency' prototyping, where I provided constant footage and analyses of where the fun was emerging during exploration. This method yielded a massive uptick in communication across Slack and provided a way for our remote directors to keep their fingers on the pulse (something doubly important as they did not come from a games background). Distributing testing builds weekly rounded out this process, ensuring device readiness and relentless user testing.​
Space released in early 2025 and was our most complex toy yet.
Contributions​​​
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Lead Developer & Designer
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Roundtripped 6+ years of front-end live-service experiences alongside an intercontinental team
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"Dramatically improved" cross-timezone studio communication, bridged expertise, and unified team vision through rapid prototyping and high transparency in process
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'Found the fun' for over a dozen unique experiences, honed each to release-ready experiences
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Interviewed and mentored front-end development team
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Identified key risks, and provided mitigation strategies
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Tested prototypes with kids, iterating designs and implementation based on internal and external feedback​
Number Journey is one of my favourite toys!
Reception
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Pok Pok was received well by critics and families alike, and we've been deeply fortunate to receive a substantial amount of cool awards over the years:
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Apple Design Award, Delight and Surprise, 2021
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App Store Award, Cultural Impact, 2023
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As of writing, rated 4.6/5 on iOS and 4.8/5 on Android
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Academic's Choice Smart Media Award
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Parent Tested Parent Approved Award
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​Much love to the small and mighty team Pok Pok :)
I finally got to build the Dino toy I always wanted to, haha.