An experience that turns cancer education into active learning

The first impression of Cancer Insights Challenge starts with motion. The landing page uses physics-based animations that react to how the page loads and how the user interacts with it. It sets an immediate signal that this is not a static page. The experience begins before any content is read, pulling users into interaction from the first second. The animations were built with mobile performance in mind, tested to stay stable on lower-end devices where physics-heavy effects often break. The result is a smooth experience across devices, especially on the phones most likely to receive a shared link.

Not all cancer facts are equally well known. Questions covering common knowledge, such as tobacco causing cancer, were awarded fewer points. Lesser-known facts, such as the cancer risks associated with certain birth control pills, were awarded more.

The weighting was based on observations from internal testing and team discussions rather than formal research. Because these assumptions could be imperfect, score differences were intentionally kept small, ranging from 4 to 10 points, so the game remained fair while still recognizing more difficult questions.

Repeated play sessions quickly become predictable if the same questions appear over and over. To keep the experience fresh, we implemented a weighted randomization system that reduced the likelihood of recently seen questions appearing again immediately. The goal wasn't complete randomness but perceived variety. Ideally, none of a player's first ten attempts at the quiz would feel exactly the same, encouraging repeat play while exposing users to a broader range of cancer facts.

Every question in the game is accompanied by custom-illustrated artwork, created specifically for Cancer Insights Challenge. In a quiz format, the moment between reading a question and committing to an answer is brief, but it is also where the players is most engaged. Original illustrations extend that moment, ground the question in a visual context, and make the experience feel considered and complete rather than assembled from stock assets.

The game tracks health, a resource that depletes with each incorrect answer. A dedicated animation plays when health is lost, giving visual weight to a wrong answer without being discouraging. At the end of the game, scores are tallied with an animated counter, and strong performances are met with a confetti celebration calibrated to how well the player did. These are small details, but they matter: they acknowledge the player's effort, mark their progress, and make the final score feel earned rather than arbitrary.

Loading screens, an unavoidable part of the experience, were turned into an opportunity. Cancer awareness facts and information about awareness months are displayed during these transitions, adding passive learning moments to a space that would otherwise go unused.

As players became more invested in improving their scores, we wanted to discourage casual score manipulation. High scores were stored locally and hashed using a secret key. While this was never intended to be a fully secure competitive leaderboard, it raised the barrier enough to prevent simple tampering and preserved the integrity of the experience for most users.