Cyber Explorers

01 · Problem

An engaging way for young people to learn real cyber security skills.

Cyber Explorers was commissioned by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport as a free online platform for 11–14 year olds, to be used in lessons, after-school clubs and at home. The product had to be in tune with its audience: engaging enough for young people to want to use it, while helping them build genuine cyber security skills ahead of choosing their GCSE options. It was launched to schools across the country, so it also had to work for a wide range of students and classroom setups.

02 · Research & insight

Designing around the learner and the learning goals.

I worked closely with the learning designers, who defined what each activity needed to teach, and with the developers, who defined what could be built in the time available. My role was to turn those two sets of requirements into an experience that made sense to an 11–14 year old.

• Insight 01 The audience is 11–14, with very different levels of digital confidence.
• Insight 02 It had to work in a classroom, an after-school club or at home.
• Insight 03 It needed to feel open to everyone, including young people who don't see themselves in tech.

03 · Solution

A simple, good-looking interface wrapped around game-based learning.

Simple enough for the audience

I designed the site map, the interface and the interactions, keeping every screen clear and easy to follow so learners could focus on the activity rather than on working out the interface.

Ideas for the game and its mechanics

I came up with creative concepts for the game and its mechanics, shaping how learners progress through missions and practise skills such as using the command line.

Designed within development limits

Working day to day with the developers, I balanced the creative ambition with technical limitations and the delivery timeline, so the interactions could be built and shipped on time.

Producing assets at scale

I created all the UI and produced the visual content, setting up the assets so production could scale across the team and stay consistent across every activity.

04 · Impact

Launched nationally in February 2022 and used by schools across the UK.

students signed up

60,000+ 60,000+

schools across the UK

2,500 2,500

of learners in the pilot were girls, against a 25% target

49% 49%

05 · Reflection

What I’d take forward

Cyber Explorers taught me how to work with many different stakeholders, learning designers, developers and the client, to meet the client’s expectations without losing sight of the learner. Just as important was building a visual system that other graphic designers could pick up and use to create new assets, so the product could keep growing beyond my own hands.