With the global surge in Chinese language learning, Deyin Zhang and his team have crafted an innovative solution: Chinese Chain. This language learning app stands out with its specialized focus on Chinese character writing and polysemy understanding, addressing the unique challenges faced by non-native speakers. Its user-friendly interface and cultural exchange features have made it a beacon in the world of language apps, particularly for those grappling with the intricacies of Chinese hieroglyphs.
Chinese Chain's distinctiveness lies in its interactive word cards and writing templates, which transform the daunting task of Chinese character writing into an engaging experience. The app's smart evaluation system not only assesses users' writing sequence and completeness but also allows them to share their progress with an online community. This blend of learning and social interaction fosters a supportive environment for mastering the language.
The app's development process was meticulous, involving extensive interviews with learners worldwide and iterative design prototyping using tools like Figma, Adobe XD, Illustrator, and Procreate. The result is an app that is not only visually appealing but also highly functional across various screen resolutions, adhering to IOS's official interface design specifications.
Key features of Chinese Chain include a customizable word book with color-coded proficiency levels, daily learning plans, and competitive elements like friend groups and rankings. These functionalities encourage consistent practice and community engagement, making the app more than just a learning tool—it's a platform for cultural connection.
Chinese Chain's journey from concept to reality was a year-long endeavor, commencing in Hangzhou, China. The design team's dedication to addressing the challenges of Chinese learning for non-native speakers is evident in every aspect of the app. Their research highlighted the need for a comprehensive tool that integrates writing practice with language learning, leading to the creation of this award-winning app.
As a testament to its design excellence and educational impact, Chinese Chain has been honored with the Iron A' Design Award in the Education, Teaching Aid, and Training Content Design category for 2024. This accolade recognizes the app's effectiveness in meeting professional standards and its innovative contribution to the learning landscape. Chinese Chain is not just an app—it's a bridge to Chinese language and culture for learners around the globe.
Project Designers: Deyin Zhang 张德寅
Image Credits: Video Credits: followed by details. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1_9JmvPW3Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXAYJDfyFIE
Project Team Members: Creative Director: Deyin Zhang
Designer: Chengyi Shen
Designer: Wenyi Shao
Designer: Qijun Ye
Designer: Fangxu Zhong
Designer: Longyu Zhang
Designer: Herui Guo
Designer: Xiyuan Zhang
Design Researcher: Hao Li
Designer: Ping Shan
Programmer: Ze Bian
Tutor: Shijian Luo
Project Name: Chinese Chain
Project Client: Zhejiang University