Migaku
A serious language learning app with an active and enthusiastic userbase. Immersion-based language learning is basically the only way to truly become fluent in a language, and Migaku offers immersion learning without having to actually move to a different country. Pretty cool!
Role: Visual Design, Branding, UI, Design System
Illustrations: EnisaurusView it live: migaku.com
The first view of the home page.
Jump to: Brand, Website, Flash Card App, Browser Extension, Design System
The Brand
I worked with Enisaurus to create a lively brand that didn’t shy away from being super exciting and youthful. The primary audience was Japanese language learners, who tend to be more open to fun illustrative stuff, so it worked.
I drew this custom wordmark for the brand using the existing swirl “Tomoe” icon.
Main screen before getting started.
Screen while studying.
When you’ve completed your studies for the day.
Flash Card App
The struggle with this app was that we wanted to make it fun but also it is a very serious language learning app. This is designed to make you fluent in a language. The mechanisms and functionality all had to be sharp and not annoying to use. We wanted it to be fun, but didn’t want to placate our very smart user base with a goofy app.
iOS App Store screenshots.
Menu with expandable language picker.
Searching…
Search results.
Editing a card deck.
The Website
The website was meant to be informational but also convey the immersive quality of the brand. Migaku is all about immersion in a language, so the website takes you on an immersive journey through multiple worlds through portals scattered throughout the page. It’s quite fun, but also conveys a lot of information about the suite of products.
Comparing Migaku to other language learning tools.
Details of the various tools of Migaku and how they work.
Migaku is a family of products. There’s a browser extension, flash card web app, and iOS & Android apps. The extension, which can be used on sites like Netflix and YouTube, allows users to add new words to their flash cards as they encounter them while watching content. With the flash card app, users study and review these words in the context of those relevant videos.
The end of the website culminates in a futuristic city party with all the characters you met along the scroll.
Browser Extension
The Migaku Browser Extension is the key to the whole experience. Without it, you don’t have any content in your flashcards! The browser extension parses text on any site, and subtitles from most big video streaming platforms, and allows users to make their flashcards from that content.
The details of the page parser. This tells users how likely it is that they will understand this page.
The extension toolbar visible on YouTube.
Pop up dictionary.
Design System
I designed the interfaces and created a design system that guides the look and feel of the app. Overall, my goal was to create a comprehensive and interactive system that would effectively meet the needs of serious language learners of all levels.
