Create a seamless interaction flow between physical movement with a ball and digital guidance and translate it into a simple, supportive in-app experience.
The process began with a structured concept phase, during which various game ideas were evaluated before the final concept for a gamified therapeutic exercise emerged.
During the design process, a flowchart and wireframes were first developed as a low-fidelity prototype, which was then refined into a detailed high-fidelity prototype in Figma. In parallel, a corporate design was established. The ball was also developed as a key interactive element of the game, which involved its technical integration, programming and visual design.
Hardware
Arduino Nano 33 BLE Sense R2
(Microcontroller with motion detection)
Prusa MK4
(3D printer for protective casing and locking mechanism)
"Mau" is a therapy app that is operated using a sensor-controlled ball, presenting therapeutic arm and shoulder exercises in a playful way. The cat "Mau" guides users through a maze game that they control using natural arm movements: The ball is tilted in the desired direction and accelerates, with the movement transferred directly to the game character.
The interface guides users through onboarding, getting started and pain tracking. Using the integrated 'Knots' section, users can record their daily pain levels on a three-point scale, view them as a visual monthly calendar and even share these informations with therapists or doctors. The corporate design runs consistently through all levels: The logo, in which the letters of "Mau" are integrated into a cat shape; the ball of wool metaphor as a symbol of tangled pain that unravels; and the yellow ball as a real-world counterpart to a mouse toy in the digital world.
The result is a system that aims to combine hardware, software and visual design into a coherent user experience.
"Mau" was exhibited as an interactive installation at the European Media Art Festival (EMAF) in Osnabrück.
Tutorial
Home & Game
Knots
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