PROJECT 3 | BAREFOOT KIDS | MICHELLE OHANNESSIAN

Based on the book by author Scott Pape*

Role: UX Designer

Barefoot Kids Responsive Website and App

For the final project of my UX design course, I was tasked with creating a design for social good. Inspired by Scott Pape's Barefoot Kids, I chose to design a responsive website and app that brings his mission to life.

I deeply resonate with Scott Pape’s belief that teaching children how to earn, save, and grow money is a vital life skill that should be part of every school curriculum. As someone who began working at the age of 13, I often wish I’d had access to his guidance back then—it could have significantly shaped my financial journey.

To make this important message accessible and engaging for children, I designed an interactive website and a fun, treasure-hunt-style app. Both platforms guide kids through the lessons in the book in an engaging and user-friendly way, empowering them with practical skills for the future.

Disclaimer:

*This project is a conceptual design created solely for educational purposes as part of my coursework for the Google UX Design Certificate. It is not intended for commercial use, distribution, or replication.

The content and inspiration for this project are based on the book Barefoot Kids by Scott Pape. All rights to the original content and intellectual property remain with the original author and copyright holder.

This design is intended to demonstrate my skills and experience in user experience design and does not represent an official product or endorsement by Scott Pape or any associated entities.

Image: "Barefoot Kids." Book by Scott Pape.

Publisher: The Barefoot Investor 2024. https://www.barefootinvestor.com/kids,

Message from Scott Pape's Personal Assistant:

Dear Michelle,

Thank you for reaching out and sharing your inspiring journey. Your dedication to financial literacy and the innovative app concept based on "Barefoot Kids" are truly commendable.

We wish you all the best in your future endeavours.

Cover of the Barefoot kids book by Scott Pape

Financial Literacy for Kids

"What is money? How do you use it?

How do you earn it? Why is it important?"

These are the kinds of questions kids naturally ask.

How incredible would it be if we could not only answer them but also equip children with the financial knowledge we wish we’d had growing up?

Despite money being a fundamental aspect of our lives, financial literacy is rarely taught in schools. As a parent I often ask Why isn’t this essential life skill part of the curriculum? Scott Pape author of Barefoot kids is a strong advocate for this.

Scott Pape’s Barefoot Kids book takes on this challenge, teaching children how to earn, save, grow, and spend money wisely.

But what about kids who struggle with reading or can't read? How can we make these lessons accessible and engaging for all?

Accessible and Engaging Financial Literacy for All Kids

To address these challenges for this project, I aim to create a responsive app and website that make Barefoot Kids by Scott Pape accessible to everyone.

This digital solution will cater to children who may struggle with reading, those who don’t have access to the physical book, or anyone looking to enhance their experience.

The platform will allow kids to follow their financial literacy adventure while keeping a digital record of their progress. With interactive features and gamified elements like a treasure hunt, the app and website will make learning about money fun, engaging, and inclusive for all.

1. Kids who have trouble reading may find the book challenging to engage with, reducing its effectiveness.

2. Families unable to purchase or borrow the book miss out entirely on the learning experience.

3. May be difficult to track progress or maintain a personal record of achievements and financial goals over time.

4. Difficult for books to provide additional or updated content.

5. The static format of a book may not capture or maintain a child’s attention, especially in a digital-first generation.

Name: Ben

Age: 13 years old

Location: Rural AUSTRALIA

Year at School: 8

“I like playing sports and hanging out with my friends. My dream is to own my own farm one day and not struggle like my family has with money!”

Ben lives with his grandparents, who have limited financial means.

He enjoys maths and it has sparked his interest in understanding money and how it works. Ben is determined to break the cycle of financial struggles he has seen in his family and dreams of having a secure future.

Name: Liberty

Age: 8.5 years old

Location: Sydney, AUSTRALIA

Year at School: 3

“I love when my teacher shows us pictures or tells us stories! My fav things to do are painting, drawing and playing outside in the garden with my little brother."

Liberty is a bright, imaginative girl with a natural talent for creativity. She struggles with reading and focusing due to dyslexia and ADHD, which often makes traditional classroom tasks challenging.

However, she thrives in environments where learning is interactive, visual, and auditory.

Her parents, both highly accomplished professionals, are devoted to supporting her education and development, seeking tools and strategies to help her overcome challenges.

Linear Design

I have chosen a linear design for the app and website to ensure users can clearly follow the steps they need to take to progress through the experience. This structure mirrors the step-by-step approach outlined in Barefoot Kids by Scott Pape, serving as a visual guide to help children navigate each stage with ease. The linear flow simplifies the process, making it intuitive and engaging for young users to follow along and achieve their goals.

I have created a few low-fi wireframes for the mobile app's homepage, exploring different layouts to optimize usability and engagement. I selected the design that provides the best flow, featuring a treasure map prominently at the top to visually guide users through their journey step by step.

Mobile First

My prototypes are designed to make exploring the Barefoot Kids journey both fun and easy!

On mobile and tablet, users dive straight into the app, where all the interactive magic happens—step-by-step guidance, colourful visuals, and exciting tasks to complete.

The desktop website takes on a different role, acting as the user's adventure guide. It’s the perfect spot to learn all about the app, how it works, and how to get started. The website sets the stage for the journey ahead!

I want this app to be accessible to everyone, especially children who struggle with reading or are unable to read at all. To support these users, the app uses a combination of vibrant visuals, simple icons, and an easy-to-follow linear flow to guide them step by step. Audio narration is integrated into key parts of the app, so users can listen to instructions and stories instead of relying on text. Additionally, the app supports text-to-speech tools and includes a feature to adjust font size and contrast for improved readability. By combining these tools, the app ensures every child can enjoy the Barefoot Kids journey and learn in a way that works best for them.

After conducting user testing on my app, I implemented key updates to improve clarity and navigation:

Progress Bar Integration: Added a progress bar at the top of the screen to visually indicate the user's completion status through each step.
Improved Visual Hierarchy: Enlarged step images and positioned them prominently at the top of the page, paired with bolded step indicators to ensure users always know their current step.
Consistent Headings: Introduced headings to all steps where they were previously missing, providing clear guidance and a structured layout.

These updates significantly enhanced the app's usability and ensured a smoother, more intuitive user experience.

Progress Bar Integration

Improved Visual Hierarchy

Consistent Headings

Working on the Barefoot Kids app project was a deeply rewarding experience. I am passionate about its mission and values, as it aligns with my belief in empowering children to learn essential financial skills, including earning, saving, spending, and investing.

This project holds personal significance, as I would love for my own children to benefit from using it. While I am proud of what I accomplished, I see potential for further iteration and improvement in the design. Given more time, I would refine and enhance the app even further.

Additionally, I aspire to connect with Scott Pape author of "Barefoot Kids" to share the project and gain his insights and feedback, as his expertise would be invaluable.