The Story Factory

A Connected Digital + On-Site Narrative Experience

Project Overview

Story Factory is a personalized, narrative-driven guest experience designed for Sesame Place that connects a child’s journey across the mobile app, theme park, and home. Our team reimagined key app features and introduced a story-based system that allows each child to create, customize, and continue their own adventure with Sesame Street characters before, during, and after their park visit.

Duration:
_{6 Weeks Fall 2025}

Role:
_{UI/UX Design
Concept Design
User Research
Case Study}

Team:
_{Wendy Yu}

Tools:
_Figma
‍

Understanding Sesame Street

Design Process

Low-fidelity Wireframe

Developed low-fidelity wireframes to explore the end-to-end user journey and define core interactions across the app and park experience. Through rapid iteration, user flow mapping, and concept testing, the wireframes helped evaluate different storytelling approaches and establish the foundation for the final experience design.

Final Outcome

A personalized, narrative-driven experience that follows each child from the app to the park and back home.

Designed the pre-visit experience within the Sesame Place app to build anticipation before families arrive at the park. Caregivers can reserve a Story Factory time slot, receive personalized countdown reminders, and create custom Muppet characters that later become part of their child's interactive story experience.

Designed the arrival experience to help families seamlessly transition from the app to the park. Guests use a digital Story Factory pass to check in via QR code or NFC wristband, while interactive maps guide them to the attraction and provide wayfinding support throughout their visit.

Created the character-building experience that allows families to design personalized Muppets before participating in the Story Factory. Through customizable appearances, accessories, and profiles, children become active characters in a story that unfolds throughout their park visit.

Created a memorable exit experience that celebrates each child’s role in the story. Families receive digital story moments, attraction photos, and collectible Story Helper badges, transforming the end of the experience into a lasting memory they can take home.

Extended the Story Factory journey beyond the park by creating a digital memory hub for families. Caregivers can access photos and revisit key moments from the experience, while children continue the story through interactive games inspired by their adventure.

Reflection
This project helped me move from feature-based thinking to designing a connected, end-to-end experience. I focused on how continuity and personalization drive engagement, especially for children. Next, I would validate long-term impact and real-world scalability.