Academic Project
Brave Buddy
“How might we prepare children for a vaccination in a way that is fun and engaging, giving them a sense of control and helping them manage their anxiety?”
Project overview
Bravebuddy is an interactive experience designed to support young children (ages 6 and up) who are anxious about needle procedures, such as vaccinations. The solution empowers kids by helping them prepare for their medical appointments in a playful, engaging, and personalized way.
The core idea behind Bravebuddy arises from the widespread problem of needle anxiety among children, which often leads to distress, avoidance, and negative healthcare experiences for both the young patients and their caregivers. Bravebuddy addresses this challenge by aiming to offer children a sense of control, familiarity, and comfort at every step. By transforming a potentially scary moment into a positive and empowering journey, Bravebuddy strives to make healthcare settings less intimidating and to promote a supportive environment for children, caregivers, and healthcare professionals alike.
How it works
Bravebuddy works by letting children design their own “buddy” character, who helps guide them through the medical procedure. Even before the appointment, children get a friendly explanation of what will happen and why, presented in a way they can understand. During the appointment, the buddy offers comfort, explains each step, and keeps children engaged with playful and reassuring prompts, making the experience less frightening and more empowering.
Research
This project presented many uncertainties for me working with augmented reality and designing for children were both completely new experiences. I also had to learn several unfamiliar programs and methods, such as Blender, which added to the challenge. Because of these factors, it was especially important to lay a strong foundation through thorough research. By conducting a PACT analysis, I identified key focus areas and concentrated on connecting with the target audience to truly understand their needs and perspectives. This approach helped ensure that our design decisions were well-informed and tailored to the users.
Insights
Empower with
familiarity
Action reveals emotion
Clarity reduces
anxiety
Persona's
Low-Mid Fidelity Prototype
To test and develop our concept, we began by creating a series of low- and mid-fidelity prototypes. These early versions allowed us to quickly explore different ideas and gather feedback from both children and stakeholders. Through these prototypes, we were able to identify what resonated most with our target audience and refine the design in an iterative, user-centered way
The first BraveBuddies
Since I returned to the same school and worked with the same group of children as in my earlier interviews, the process felt smoother these students already understood the idea behind Bravebuddy and were comfortable sharing their thoughts. The class consisted of seventh graders, who are typically around nine years old the age when most children receive their first vaccine making them the ideal target audience for this project.
As a central part of the experience, we asked the children to draw their own “buddy” character. By involving them in this creative process, each child could personalize their journey, making the medical procedure feel more familiar and less intimidating. Drawing their buddy gave them ownership, a sense of control, and a comforting presence, helping them express feelings they might not have words for and providing emotional security and greater engagement throughout the process
The first Brave Buddy video
This was my first time working with augmented reality, and no one in our group had prior experience making it a real challenge to figure out. To communicate our concept and make testing possible, I decided to create a video in after effects that illustrated the idea for users, while also using the process to develop my own VR skills.
The video served as a demonstration of how the buddy would guide children, offering clear explanations about why they are getting vaccinated and what to expect. After consulting with a healthcare professional, we received important feedback including which words to avoid, and advice not to promise the procedure would be painless, as this would be misleading for children.
Branding
Logo
The logo uses rounded, playful shapes and gentle lines to make the brand feel approachable and safe for kids. By often integrating the buddy character, it signals friendship and reassurance
Collors
Bright, soft pastel tones were chosen to create a positive and calming vibe. This palette makes all touchpoints feel both inviting and child-friendly
Pattern
Playful patterns repeat friendly buddy illustrations and simple shapes to create visual consistency. These patterns help the materials stand out while adding familiarity and fun for children
High Fidelity Prototype
Building and testing the high-fidelity prototype pushed me to work with new tools and bring the Bravebuddy experience as close to real as possible. The positive, engaged reactions from kids and useful feedback from adults showed the impact of a fully interactive, polished prototype and confirmed how valuable user testing is for refining design decision.
How to get introduced to Brave Buddy
Each year, when children turn nine, they typically receive two vaccines, and their guardians are sent a letter with instructions for the appointments. Included in this letter are materials about Bravebuddy and a build-it-yourself VR headset with simple step-by-step instructions to get started with the Bravebuddy experience.
Kids begin by drawing their own “buddy,” which can be scanned with an app that transforms it into a 3D character. They can then watch friendly information videos about their upcoming vaccines or shots, and when they arrive at the hospital, their buddy joins them in augmented reality guiding and playing games to make the process as reassuring as possible
Creating the VR Experiance
We initially set out to create our own custom rooms in Fectar, but due to time constraints, this didn’t work as planned. Instead, I adapted existing rooms within Fectar to effectively showcase the buddies as they told their stories. These virtual spaces allowed us to bring the concept to life for user testing. In addition to the digital experiences, I also built viewing boxes for the presentation to provide a tangible, interactive element for the audience
User testing
User testing with the high-fidelity prototype was essential for validating Brave buddy’s final design and user experience. By observing and interviewing children and educators, we gathered direct feedback about the clarity, comfort, and engagement provided by the concept shaping further iterations and ensuring the solution truly meets users’ need
It feels nice to have my own buddy. I want to take it with me to my appointment!"
It looks like a fun way for kids to understand what’s going to happen. Much better than only reading the letter.” (Parent feedback)
Watching the buddy explain it makes the shot seem less scary.”
“This would really help children talk about their feelings without just focusing on the shot.” (Teacher feedback)
Reflection
Embracing New Tools and Challenges
This project pushed me to work with unfamiliar technologies like Blender and Fectar, while designing for a young and vulnerable user group. Navigating these challenges forced me to learn quickly, stay flexible, and keep my focus on practical problem solving rather than perfection.
The Value of Collaboration and Iteration
Engaging closely with both teammates and users showed me how powerful open communication and feedback can be. Iterative testing with children and caregivers revealed insights that fundamentally improved the solution, proving that true collaboration is key to meaningful design.
Designing with Empathy
Most importantly, I experienced firsthand how empathy driven design can create real impact. By actively listening to children’s needs and letting their voices shape the experience, I was able to develop a solution that made a stressful process more comforting and supportive for both children and their families.
