Designing ELI was not an easy task. Creating a character that children would not only enjoy but also feel connected to required careful thought and planning. ELI is a central character in all our storytelling and learning journeys with kids, so it was important to our team to get this right.

To make sure we were on the right track, we tested early designs with kids of different ages. Their reactions - from giggles to thoughtful (and sometimes blunt!) feedback - helped us refine details and ensure that ELI felt approachable and engaging for children at many stages of development.

The design process became more manageable once we identified the key characteristics that were crucial for our little mascot.

From the very beginning, we knew that ELI should be three things: 

• A relatable companion - a friend who feels approachable and familiar.
• A robot - to be able to go places and do and know things a child might not be able to do on their own.
• Expressive and simple - able to provide meaningful feedback to the child in different situations and contexts.

With this in mind, we set out to build the best robot companion a kid could ever want to explore the galaxy and make their dreams come true. 

Why does a child benefit from a learning companion?

The platform we are building at IRL is as expansive as the galaxy, filled with countless opportunities to explore and learn. But children rarely venture out alone. Going on an adventure is always better with a friend, especially one that can help give context and information about what’s going on. 

Children naturally seek out companionship—whether from playmates, stuffed animals, or even imaginary friends—because adventures are also simply more fun when shared. With this in mind, we realized that the child’s experience would be enriched if they had a relatable buddy to come along with them.

ELI was designed to be that friendly presence: someone who is always there to share the journey, cheer them on, and make the adventure feel rich and real.

Why is a robot the best companion for exploration and adventuring?

The next big question was: why a robot? Why not a stuffed animal, a pet, or some other familiar friend? For us, the answer was clear. Robots are special because they can do things no stuffed animal, pet, or imaginary friend can truly do.

We were influenced by some iconic robots from our childhood - R2D2, Johnny 5, the Iron Giant - and those that inspire our kids today, like Wall-E and Astro Bot. However, while we drew inspiration from them, we also wanted ELI to feel distinctive: a companion with its own personality, charm and purpose. ELI is a unique creation, designed to be a child’s companion in both learning and play.

A robot can give feedback in a way that feels real and interactive, rather than one-sided. And because robots aren’t bound by weather, location, or even reality, they can go anywhere: indoors, outdoors, or even into space! That sense of boundless possibility was exactly what we wanted kids to feel while using the app. They can always take ELI with them, no matter what the adventure will be.

Robots also offer endless potential for imagination. If something isn’t part of the robot yet, it can be built, upgraded, or dreamed into existence. That flexibility makes ELI more than just a character—it makes ELI a symbol of curiosity, problem-solving, and creativity.

How can robots be expressive?

Of course, a companion is only meaningful if it can show feelings and respond to its friend. This is where ELI’s key design traits became especially important. 

At IRL, we are building a global platform for children around the world. We wanted to give ELI a personality and intent that shines through both visually and interactively - we want to support pre-readers, early readers and different developmental levels with few or no words or specific language understanding required.

For inspiration, we turned to one of the simplest, most universal ways people express themselves today: emojis. ELI’s face is a screen with two oval-shaped eyes that can display a range of expressions: happy, curious, confused, sleepy, or even a little sad. These expressions help kids understand how ELI is “feeling” in the moment, which makes interactions more natural and relatable.

To complement the eyes, ELI also has a secondary screen on its belly. This screen can show helpful icons like a battery meter (to suggest energy levels), a question mark (when puzzled), or other simple symbols that support communication without needing words. It’s a fun, playful way for ELI to “talk” visually, without ever saying a word, because sometimes a simple image can say more than a whole sentence.

We didn’t just design these expressions in isolation. We showed ELI’s faces and belly icons to children of different ages and watched how they responded. Their feedback - from instant recognition to suggestions for making things clearer - was invaluable and guided us in keeping the expressions simple, clear and fun - so that even pre-readers could instantly understand ELI.

We also wanted each child to feel like they had their own personal explorer companion, which meant we needed customizable traits for ELI. ELI has playful accessories like  sets of antennae that can take on different shapes and forms. Sometimes they sprout like flowers, sometimes they sparkle like stars, and other times they branch out like antlers, depending on the environment. These playful transformations give ELI yet another way to express mood and personality, adding variety and delight to every interaction.

And because ELI is a robot, we didn’t stop at screens or antennae. It has many other features that come to life when the context is appropriate. For example, when a tool is needed, ELI can print it with its 3d printer. We also gave ELI arms and legs made from expandable tubes, allowing it to move and pose in ways that bring extra life to the design. Whether stretching, waving, or bouncing with excitement, these movements make ELI feel more dynamic and engaging—qualities that help strengthen the bond between child and companion.

A robot with a purpose

In the end, ELI isn’t just a character or a plot device. ELI is a thoughtfully crafted companion that bridges IRL’s real-world learning platform with a storytelling learning world of adventures where children can dive into on and offline activities that are wholesome, fun and inspiring.

ELI makes every experience feel more like an adventure shared with a trusted friend. By choosing a robot, we gave children a friend who can react, explore anywhere, and express emotions in a fun, relatable way.

For us, the design of ELI goes beyond appearance. It's about creating a presence that children can connect with, learn from, and feel excited to spend time with. ELI embodies the spirit of curiosity, imagination, and playfulness that we hope every child experiences within our app.

I will be sharing some of the technical challenges and design process over in our engineering blog in the near future. In the meantime, we can’t wait for your child to meet ELI, to explore together, and discover all the thoughtful details built into each adventure.

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