The product logo design incorporates the font family, color palette, and rounded corners used in the product.

An enthusiastic and encouraging prairie dog, Wyatt welcomes each student to WACS and introduces them to each challenge, or sub-test.

Stills from the storyboards/animatic of the product intro. Timing and pacing were worked out at this stage using prototype audio.

A still from the intro animation. Wyatt introduces himself and asks the student to join him in some challenges, the sub-tests.

A point-and-click test to check that the student knows how to use a mouse. Difficulty here will segue the student to a mouse tutorial.

In the Real Words sub-test, the student matches the spoken word to the word on screen. Sight Words and Nonwords follow this format.

A presentation graphic of the WACS adaptive sequencer. The number of sub-tests taken by each student varies based on ability.

In the Letter Recognition sub-test, the student matches the printed letter to the name of the letter presented by the speaker.

In the Letter Sound sub-test, the student matches the letter sound to the printed letter on screen.

A presentation graphic of the adaptive item sequencer within a sub-test. On average, students complete WACS in 20 minutes.

After each sub-test, a new animated character pops into this short segue, a cue for the student that they have completed a challenge.

In the Initial Sound sub-test, the student matches the initial sound of the word presented. Rollover audio is available.

Examples of the illustrations created for the sub-tests. For consistency, a simple descriptive line style and color palette were developed.

Additional sampling of the 1,200+ illustrations created for the sub-tests. These images were designed to be quickly identifiable.

In the Blending sub-test, the student must blend together the sounds presented by the speaker to form a complete word.

Stills from various intro animations. Each sub-test begins with Wyatt describing/demonstrating a challenge, a cue that a sub-test is next.

Several character concept illustrations created during the design phase. The upper left image was chosen as the design for Wyatt.

A sample character model sheet and color study for Wyatt, which were used to develop the 3D model and texture maps.

Once the animation was completed, and lighting applied, the final frames were rendered with the character’s fur and a motion blur.

Set model sheets for Wyatt’s home. As with characters, once sets are modeled in 3D, the textures, lighting, and fx are then applied.

In the Vocabulary sub-test, the student fills in the blank with the correct word. Rollover audio is available.

This ball-and-stick font was developed to closely align with how children typically learn to print. This font family is used in the sub-tests.

In the Listening Comprehension sub-test, the student first listens to a story and then answers questions. Audio is repeatable on rollover.

Examples of illustrations created for the Listening Comprehension sub-test. These images do not reveal answers to the item questions.

Additional sampling of the 200+ vector illustrations developed for the stories heard in the Listening Comprehension sub-test.

In the Reading Comprehension sub-test, the student is asked to read a story and then to press a done button to answer questions.

Sample pages from the Style and Standards Guide. Begun during the design phase, this guide details all media and UX standards.

In the Segmenting sub-test, the student places sounds to form a word. The arrow button plays the sound icons in placed sequence.

This extensive flowchart describes the test administrator’s role from login (school or home) to testing students and viewing reports.

These example UI wireframes were developed during the design phase to define the user experience of a teacher or administrator.

The teacher adds or removes students before starting a test. The Monitor Tests tab is accessible for viewing a testing session’s progress.

Sample online and offline reports. Reports are available in chart and graph forms and on four levels: child, class, school, and district.

A sampling of screens from a presentation pitch on how WACS addresses the challenges of pre-literacy testing.

The UI for the interactive product demo. Used by Sales and Marketing to show assessments, reports, and sequence design.

Stills from the product demo video for Sales & Marketing. This video steps through the student’s experience of the assessment sequence.

Several pages from the Marketing Style Guide, which defines logo usage, website design, color palettes, fonts, and all branded materials.

A sub-page of the Waterford Products section of the company’s website, which details the benefits, approach, and validity of WACS.

Several examples of hi-res images of Wyatt in his burrow and in full-body poses, with and without props, for marketing materials.