CLIENT
DATE
September 2024
ROLE
Lead UX Designer
RESPONSABILTIES
Research, Class Narrative, UX Design, Wireframing, Prototyping, User Testing
Brief:
“The Money Machine” is a B2C project developed for The Financial Times, designed to bring Bill Phillips’ iconic invention, the MONIAC, into the modern era.
This 75-year-old hydraulic analogue computer, which simulates the UK economy, has fascinated economists for decades. Originally used as a teaching tool in Phillips’ classes, it allowed students to test their economic theories in real-time. However, with only 14 machines ever built and just three still functional today, access to the MONIAC remains a rare privilege.
This project aims to democratize that experience, using VR technology to make this historic tool accessible to anyone with an interest in economics.
FT’s article can be found here.
App can be found in the Apple Store.
User Research
Conceptualization
User Journey
Narrative Development
Game Design
Wireframing
User Testing
Design Iteration
Prototype development
Our research started with the original MONIAC at the University of Cambridge, restored by Professor Allan McRobie. McRobie, both impressed and puzzled by Phillips’ design, has been a key collaborator since the project began. Our Wongdoody team completed a photogrammetry and LiDAR scan, recorded the machine’s original sounds, and gathered vital insights from McRobie to ensure our digital twin captured every essential detail.
The second part of our research involved engaging directly with Cambridge students, asking them what they felt was missing from their economic studies, how the subject could be made more engaging, and what key concepts they wanted to better understand. Unsurprisingly, many found it challenging to fully visualize economic theory—something we were excited to address with our solution!
Knowledge retention rates
Focus attention
Student engagement in classrooms
Test scores
Collaboration skills
The app is designed as an educational tool focused on the machine, with the following user flow:
In an earlier version of the flow, there was a ‘home’ mode where users could access all options, including Free Play Mode. However, we discovered this setup reduced the likelihood of users engaging with Free Play
Crafting the narrative was a significant challenge, as it needed to align with the first-year economics curriculum while being seamlessly integrated into the machine’s mechanics.
To help users grasp the complexity of the machine, we developed a teacher persona inspired by Bill Phillips. This voiceover character guides users, offering insights and a bit of humor along the way.
The final narrative was a joint effort between our team, the Financial Times and Cambridge economics professors.
Given the young age of the students, it was crucial to implement mechanics that sparked curiosity and encouraged exploration of the machine. While maintaining the overall academic tone, as requested by the Financial Times, we seamlessly incorporated gamification strategies to engage users. Hidden Easter eggs, ‘break the machine’ mechanics, humorous voiceover anecdotes, and dynamic visual and sound effects were among the interactive elements designed to captivate and motivate users.
The app was tested and launched at the London School of Economics, where both students and teachers had the opportunity to experience it firsthand.
