Visual Universe & Games
Ubbu is a coding education platform that teaches children aged 6–12 through game-based STEAM lessons.
I led the creative vision for Ubbu's visual universe over a year-long engagement—designing characters, building worlds, and shaping the storytelling that ties it all together. Alongside this, I drove game design, illustration, and prototyping for a growing library of educational games shipped on a monthly cadence.
I led the creative vision for Ubbu's visual universe over a year-long engagement—designing characters, building worlds, and shaping the storytelling that ties it all together. Alongside this, I drove game design, illustration, and prototyping for a growing library of educational games shipped on a monthly cadence.
Client
Ubbu
Project Owner
João Montenegro
Creative Direction
Eduardo Barbosa
Production
Eduardo Barbosa
Illustration
Eduardo Barbosa (lead)
Margarida Mouta (lead)
Joana Neves
Miguel Praça
Game Design
Eduardo Barbosa
Margarida Mouta
Prototyping
Eduardo Barbosa
A single visual universe—characters, worlds, and stories—designed to give Ubbu's growing catalog of games, lessons, and videos a shared identity that kids recognize and want to return to.
The Characters
At the heart of Ubbu's world is a cast of five friends, each representing a STEAM discipline. Every character has a distinct personality designed to resonate with different kids, so there's always someone to connect with. More than mascots, they're companions on the coding journey—guiding players through tile-based adventures, visual block challenges, and creative puzzles.
Max
Max represents Technology. Curious and hands-on, he's always tinkering with gadgets and eager to figure out how things work.
Perline
Perline represents Engineering. Methodical and resourceful, she loves building things and finding clever solutions to tricky problems.
Jaython
Jaython represents Mathematics. Analytical and playful, he sees patterns everywhere and turns numbers into adventures.
Pascal
Pascal represents Arts. Expressive and imaginative, he brings color and creativity to every challenge he encounters.
Ruby
Ruby represents Science. Bold and inquisitive, she's driven by experiments and loves testing ideas to see what happens.
Moments
A selection of illustrations created to accompany the storytelling videos, bringing key narrative moments to life and enriching the educational experience.
The Robots
We imagined a near-future world full of robots kids would want to exist. Every robot has an unexpected function and every detail serves it—the GrillBot transforms from a portable box into a fully equipped cooking assistant, the SpiderTent unfurls its legs to form a walking shelter. Playful, but never arbitrary.
Robots in Action
Animated sequences bring each robot's unique abilities to life, showing how they move, transform, and interact with the world around them.
Object Runway
Objects scroll by on a conveyor belt and players must quickly decide: does it contain a computer? Press green for yes, red for no. A fast-paced game that builds pattern recognition and understanding of embedded computing.
Find the Differences
Players compare two seemingly identical scenes to spot the differences between them, training attention to detail and observational skills within Ubbu's colorful world.
Tile Games
A versatile game mechanic that adapts well across ages and skill levels. With each new game we created different stories and scenarios, keeping kids engaged as this core mechanic evolved in complexity.
Commands & Sequences
Car Bot
These games teach sequential logic by having players plan paths through obstacles using command tiles. As players progress, new commands expand the possibilities—instructing a farming drone to plant seeds or guiding an excavator through terrain. The introduction of loops lets players repeat sequences, and with gradually increasing control over parameters, they master this core coding concept.
Commands & Sequences
Excavator Robot
Commands & Sequences
Car Bot
Commands & Sequences
Farmer Drone
Blocks & Flow
Delivery Bot
Visual block-based games introduce coding through a hands-on approach: players drag and drop colorful blocks that snap together like puzzle pieces, building program flows that bring their ideas to life. Each block represents a command or logic element—loops, conditions, or actions—teaching the fundamentals of computational thinking through tangible, interactive play.
Blocks & Flow
Multibot
Visual block-based games introduce coding through a hands-on approach: players drag and drop colorful blocks that snap together like puzzle pieces, building program flows that bring their ideas to life. Each block represents a command or logic element—loops, conditions, or actions—teaching the fundamentals of computational thinking through tangible, interactive play.
Robot Puzzle
Players assemble robots from scattered parts, matching components to complete each design—building spatial awareness and an understanding of how parts form a whole.
Robot Maker
A creative sandbox where kids combine parts freely to design their own robots, encouraging experimentation and imaginative thinking.
