Designers
Brandon Escalona
Year
2026
Category
New Talent
Country
Austria
School
FH Joanneum University of Applied Sciences
Teacher
Markus Well
Three questions to the project team
What was the particular challenge of the project from a UX point of view?
The main UX challenge was designing something that older adults can understand immediately, without instructions, training, or technical confidence. Every step had to be self-explanatory and predictable. That is why the interface was reduced to an absolute minimum: at any moment, only one thing changes or asks for attention. Instead of menus, screens, or apps, the interaction is physical and spatial. Compared to existing solutions, the setup had to be one simple hand movement. Grab the flap, start moving. No preparation, no cognitive load, no barrier between intention and action. The challenge was to make this simplicity feel empowering rather than oversimplified, while still providing clear guidance and feedback throughout the exercise.
What was your personal highlight in the development process? Was there an aha!-moment, was there a low point?
My personal highlight was the moment I realized that several core requirements could be solved through one single design element: the flap. I was struggling with how to integrate the projection optics, the activation mechanism, and the camera in a way that stayed simple and trustworthy. The aha moment came when I understood that the flap could combine all of these functions. It carries the mirrors on the back that enable the short projection distance, it is the physical element users grab to start the system, and through its spiral motion it also hides the camera completely when the projector is not in use. Solving these challenges with one clear form felt like the turning point where the project really came together.
Where do you see yourself and the project in the next five years?
In the next five years, I hope LevelUp becomes less about a single product and more about an idea others pick up and build on. My goal is to inspire companies to think about projectors and interfaces as spatial, physical interactions rather than screens with menus. If parts of LevelUp are copied, adapted, or improved by others, I would see that as a success. Design has the power to quietly shape everyday behavior, and I hope this project encourages clearer, more humane interactions that make daily life a little easier for people who need it most.
