Increasing User Engagement: Bringing Data to Life Through Gamification

One of our recent projects, Run:ED, is an app designed to make fitness fun and promote healthy habits from an early age by gamifying running in UK schools. By logging their activity, students track their progress, unlock rewards, and stay motivated - all while having fun!

The Challenge

In a University of Connecticut study, 76% of students reported that digital tools - like animations, videos, and interactive visuals - make learning more engaging, reinforcing the value of visual content in keeping students motivated.

Run:ED needed a way to turn large volumes of student activity data into a format that was clear, interactive, and fun. A simple leaderboard wouldn’t cut it - students needed a visual journey that showed their progress in real time.

The solution had to:

Make progress clear and exciting.
Highlight key milestones to keep runners motivated.
Support customisation for mascots, themes, and different challenges.
Work smoothly across all screen sizes, from classroom smartboards to mobiles.
Be lightweight and fast, even with high data volumes.

Our Solution

To build an interactive map that tracks progress along a set route, using key milestones to create an engaging experience.

To ensure performance, flexibility, and scalability, we’d use SVGs, allowing for smooth animations, fast load times, and rich clean visuals at any size.

We’d also make it fully customisable - so schools can create their own challenge routes, from running through Paris for the 2024 Olympics to bespoke virtual races. Teams can also choose their own mascots, adding a fun and competitive element.

A showcase of some of the Run:ED mascots.

How We Built It

Performance was a priority. We structured the map into three layers to create the illusion of depth and smooth scaling across different window sizes. SVG symbols were used to optimise rendering, reducing file sizes while keeping visuals sharp.

The Impact

We transformed a complex data challenge into a simple, engaging, and scalable visual experience that keeps students moving.

Run:ED and its map have been a hit, and we’re already looking at what’s next - expanding the range of maps, adding more dynamic elements, and bringing in extra animations to make it even more immersive.

The goal? To keep pushing engagement forward and make physical activity something students look forward to.

Gamify Your Users' Experience

Now you’ve seen what we can do, why not bring the same level of engagement to your users? Whether you want to visualise progress, add interactive elements, or gamify your platform, we can help.

Get in touch today and let’s build something awesome.