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Eco Explore

Eco Explore

Eco Explore

Nature, Reimagined for Future Generations

Nature, Reimagined for Future Generations

A next-generation VR learning experience powered by AI and real-time interaction. This project explores how generative AI can reshape design workflows, rapid worldbuilding, and spatial storytelling.

A next-generation VR learning experience powered by AI and real-time interaction. This project explores how generative AI can reshape design workflows, rapid worldbuilding, and spatial storytelling.

TIMELINE & STATUS

4 weeks

Team of 2

TOOLS

Figma + AI Production

ChatGPT Image 2, Seedance 2.0, Nanobanana Pro, Kling 3.0, ChatGPT, Gemini

SKILLS

End-to-end Product Design

User Research, Competitor Analysis, Interaction Design, Visual Design

Eco Explore video overview

WATCH THE PRODUCT FILM ↗

THE OPPORTUNITY

Why Eco Explore?

Why Eco Explore?

Why Eco Explore?

Most educational tools present animals as isolated facts or immersive experiences, but fail to show how ecosystems function as dynamic, interconnected systems.

Eco Explore transforms environmental learning into an interactive spatial experience, allowing users to observe how animals, climate, terrain, and human activity influence one another in real time through immersive VR exploration.

By combining AI-assisted worldbuilding, real-time interaction, and ecosystem simulation, the platform creates a more engaging and intuitive way to understand biodiversity, ecological balance, and environmental impact beyond traditional classroom learning.

PROCESS

How AI Reshaped Our Design Workflow

How AI Reshaped Our Design Workflow

How AI Reshaped Our Design Workflow

Prompt → Generate → Select → Refine → Test → Rebuild

01

Research

AI synthesized user needs, learning behaviors, and immersive education scenarios.

02

Competitor Insights

AI analyzed VR education products and identified gaps in interaction, content, and immersion.

03

Wireframing

AI accelerated layout exploration and generated multiple interface and interaction directions.

04

UI Generation

AI supported rapid interface iteration across ecosystem selection, learning panels, and spatial controls.

05

Visual Worldbuilding

AI generated immersive ecosystem environments, animals, and product-use scenarios.

06

Video Prototype

AI tools created cinematic motion, scene transitions, and immersive product storytelling sequences.

RESEARCH SYSTEM

Human-led research + AI accelerated synthesis

Human-led research + AI accelerated synthesis

Human-led research + AI accelerated synthesis

Human-Led Research

01

Human-Led Research

We conducted competitor analysis, market validation, and ecosystem learning research across existing VR and education platforms.

AI-Accelerated Synthesis

02

AI-Accelerated Synthesis

AI helped summarize large research datasets, identify recurring patterns, and surface potential product opportunities.

Collaborative Decision-Making

03

Collaborative Decision-Making

Final product directions, interaction systems, and learning experiences were shaped through combined human judgment and AI-assisted exploration.

STRATEGY

From Research Insights to Product Decisions

From Research Insights to Product Decisions

From Research Insights to Product Decisions

Research insight

01

Research Insight

Users can explore immersive environments, but they often do not understand the hidden relationships behind ecological changes.

02

Design Goal

Make ecosystem relationships visible, interactive, and easier to understand through cause-and-effect learning.

Eco Explore design goal
Eco Explore UX framework and journey

03

Product Solution

Eco Explore designs an interactive ecosystem system where users manipulate environmental variables, observe system-level changes, and receive real-time explanations of cause-and-effect relationships.

PRODUCT EXPERIENCE

Core Experience Flow

Core Experience Flow

Core Experience Flow

From ecosystem selection to real-time causal explanation, Eco Explore guides users through an interactive learning loop.

Select Ecosystem video preview

01

Select Ecosystem

Users choose a biome and preview its system state, species, and key relationships.

02

Enter Ecosystem

Users enter a living ecosystem where species, climate, and environmental conditions become visible.

Enter Ecosystem video preview
Manipulate Conditions video preview

03

Manipulate Conditions

Users adjust variables such as temperature, vegetation, rainfall, or predator levels to test system responses.

04

Observe System Response

The ecosystem reacts in real time, showing visible changes across animals, plants, and habitat conditions.

Observe System Response video preview
Understand Cause & Effect video preview

05

Understand Cause & Effect

AI explains why the changes occurred, revealing hidden ecological relationships behind the experience.

IMPACT

Social Impact — Helping Future Generations Reconnect with Nature

Social Impact — Helping Future Generations Reconnect with Nature

Social Impact — Helping Future Generations Reconnect with Nature

Eco Explore uses immersive technology to create meaningful environmental experiences for young learners — fostering curiosity, empathy, and deeper ecological understanding.

Access Beyond Location video preview

01

Access Beyond Location

Many students may never visit a rainforest, ocean reef, or alpine ecosystem in person. Eco Explore brings these environments into classrooms, homes, and everyday learning spaces.

From Watching to Understanding video preview

02

From Watching to Understanding

Instead of only seeing animals and landscapes, young learners can interact with ecosystem variables and understand how climate, species, and habitats affect one another.

Building Environmental Empathy video preview

03

Building Environmental Empathy

By making nature feel close, responsive, and emotionally engaging, Eco Explore helps future generations develop stronger curiosity and care for the natural world.

PRODUCTION

AI Tooling in UI Production

AI Tooling in UI Production

AI Tooling in UI Production

Prompt to Layout with LLMs

01

Prompt to Layout with LLMs

AI was used to quickly explore early interface structures, helping us test different ways to organize ecosystem selection, learning panels, and spatial controls.

02

Human-Led UI/UX Design with Miro

AI generated the initial interface directions and layout variations, while the final information architecture, visual hierarchy, and design system were reorganized and refined manually.

Human-Led UI/UX Design with Miro
Human-Directed Interface Generation with ChatGPT

03

Human-Directed Interface Generation with ChatGPT

The core layout structure and visual system were designed manually, then used to guide AI-generated interface iterations across different screens and interaction scenarios.

04

Final UI Polish with Figma

After AI-generated interface exploration, final UI polishing and refinement were completed manually using Figma and Figma AI-assisted editing tools. Human designers adjusted spacing, hierarchy, readability, interaction consistency, and visual balance to create a more cohesive and production-ready interface system.

Final UI Polish with Figma

HUMAN INSIGHT AT THE CENTER

AI accelerated every stage of the workflow — but human insight remained at the center of every design decision.

AI accelerated every stage of the workflow — but human insight remained at the center of every design decision.

AI accelerated every stage of the workflow — but human insight remained at the center of every design decision.

FINAL DESIGN

Eco Explore Interface Gallery

Eco Explore Interface Gallery

Eco Explore Interface Gallery

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Stay conntected.

I design digital products at the intersection of UX, AI, and technology. My work combines research, product thinking, and hands-on development to turn complex ideas into clear, intuitive experiences.

Made with Love by

©2026 Hongxin Li. All right reserved.

Stay conntected.

I design digital products at the intersection of UX, AI, and technology. My work combines research, product thinking, and hands-on development to turn complex ideas into clear, intuitive experiences.

Made with Love by

©2026 Hongxin Li. All right reserved.