Written by: Mira Jensen
Award-winning motion designer Xinxun Liao is leading the evolution of her acclaimed "Unlocking Learning" project into a new digital platform aimed at empowering young learners. Originally conceived as an animated thesis piece that swept Silver honors at the London Design Awards, New York Digital Awards, and MUSE Design Awards, "Unlocking Learning 2.0" is now in development with children’s tech brand PEPKOO. The project’s next chapter builds on Liao’s creative vision – using motion graphics and storytelling to help kids with dyslexia and other learning differences – and expands it into an interactive, product-aligned learning experience.
An imaginative scene from Xinxun Liao’s original "Unlocking Learning" animation shows how motion, color, and sound blend to reinforce reading concepts. The award-winning piece used playful visuals to make learning more engaging for children with dyslexia.
A Design-Driven Evolution
"Unlocking Learning" began as Liao’s personal exploration into inclusive design. The original animated short combined whimsical visuals with dynamic typography to demonstrate how motion graphics can help children with dyslexia read more effectively. Its success on the awards circuit quickly proved that design innovation and education can go hand-in-hand – the project was praised for "originality, emotional impact, and conceptual strength" by international juries. Now, Liao is reimagining her concept on a larger canvas. In Unlocking Learning 2.0, the once self-contained film evolves into a comprehensive motion-learning platform that children can interact with across devices.
At the heart of the 2.0 platform is a friendly animated guide named "KIBO." KIBO is a motion-directed digital companion designed to walk kids through every step of the learning journey – from onboarding on a tablet, to practicing reading, to safe creative play online. "I wanted to create a character who literally guides the experience," Liao says of KIBO. "It’s like having a fun tutor on screen, one that uses movement and expression to keep kids engaged and reassured." Through KIBO’s playful narration and gestures, complex tasks are broken down into approachable, visual steps. Young users meet KIBO as they set up their device with a new PEPKOO case, and continue to see the character pop up in short animated lessons, safety tips, and creative challenges within the app.
Creative Storytelling Meets Accessibility
Beyond its mascot, Unlocking Learning 2.0 features a rich library of motion-driven content. Liao and her team are producing cross-platform video modules – from bite-sized animations teaching phonics, to interactive explainers kids can tap and swipe through. Each module uses the power of motion design that Liao pioneered in the original project: letters might dance into place, characters illustrate vocabulary words, and ambient sounds provide context cues. The new format allows children to not just watch, but also participate in the learning process. For example, a reading module might invite kids to trace a letter as it animates on screen, or choose a storyline that then plays out with responsive animations. "It was important that we maintain that guiding hand feeling from the original piece," Liao notes, referring to the gentle, encouraging pacing that defined her thesis film. "Now we’re making it interactive – the child’s actions can influence what happens next, which makes the learning feel alive."
Equally central to the project is its visual identity, which Liao has refreshed from the ground up for the PEPKOO brand. PEPKOO is known for its colorful, kid-proof tablet cases marketed with the tagline "Protect Your iPad, Empower Your Kids!" Liao leveraged that ethos to craft a look-and-feel for Unlocking Learning 2.0 that complements PEPKOO’s fun, family-friendly products. The new design language features bright palettes and bubbly shapes drawn from PEPKOO’s hardware line, creating a seamless story from the physical product to the digital content. This identity is also optimized for e-commerce storytelling – from Amazon product pages to PEPKOO’s website, parents will see KIBO and other visuals explaining the learning platform alongside the product images. "When a parent shops for a kids’ tablet case now, they’re also seeing an entire learning world that comes with that case," Liao explains. "We aligned the visuals so that the value proposition is clear: this isn’t just a protective shell, it’s a gateway to something enriching for your child."
Innovation in Inclusive Design
Most notably, Liao’s creative direction keeps accessibility at the forefront. Unlocking Learning 2.0 is being built with an "accessibility-first" design approach aimed at neurodivergent learners. Every video and interaction includes options for audio narration and captioning, helping children who benefit from multi-sensory input. Animations are crafted with sensory-friendly pacing – calming, fluid motions and appropriate pauses – so as not to overwhelm kids who may be sensitive to fast, flashy visuals. Clear visual guidance, such as highlighted text that syncs with voice-over, addresses the needs of learners with dyslexia in particular. (Dyslexia affects up to 20% of the population, making such adaptive design crucial.) By integrating these features from the start, rather than as afterthoughts, the platform aims to set a new benchmark for inclusive educational media. "Accessibility was our North Star," Liao says. "From color contrast to voice options, we’re testing every element to ensure it’s usable and welcoming for kids who learn differently. Good design is inclusive design – it should work beautifully for all children."
This emphasis on accessibility is an evolution of the original project’s mission. Liao’s award-winning animation was celebrated for its "clarity and compassion" in tackling the challenges of dyslexic learners. Now, as a full-fledged product, Unlocking Learning 2.0 not only raises awareness about learning differences – it provides a hands-on solution that families can use in everyday life. "It’s surreal and wonderful to take something that started as a personal passion project and bring it into a real company setting," Liao reflects. "PEPKOO has given me the resources to expand the idea far beyond a single video. We’re turning it into an experience that kids can return to again and again."
Leading Creative Innovation at PEPKOO
BAILEYKING Inc., the parent company of PEPKOO, tapped Liao to lead this initiative as part of its broader push into educational technology (EdTech). For Liao, who joins the project as Creative Director, it’s an opportunity to bridge creative storytelling with tangible impact. Her unique background – spanning a BFA in Animation in China to an MFA in Motion Media Design in the U.S. – has prepared her to helm this interdisciplinary effort. Under her leadership, designers, illustrators, and developers are working hand-in-hand to ensure the final product is as engaging as it is effective.
Industry watchers are already taking note of the collaboration. Not only does it highlight a young designer translating award-winning design research into a market-ready product, but it also showcases how a consumer tech brand can innovate with purpose. With Unlocking Learning 2.0, PEPKOO is poised to offer something genuinely new: a blend of physical and digital design aimed at making learning fun, safe, and inclusive for kids.
Unlocking Learning 2.0 is currently in development at PEPKOO, with updates expected to roll out in the coming months. For design enthusiasts and educators alike, this project stands as a promising example of creative vision driving social innovation – proof that great design can unlock new pathways for learners of all kinds.
