Purrkins Café
Interactive barista training featuring realistic scenarios, performance feedback and a questionable amount of cat puns.
About the project
Purrkins Café is a concept project that lets new staff practice the basics before their first real shift. It builds confidence through playful, hands-on learning and shows how careful design, along with a little experimentation, can bring simulation-style experiences to life using Rise. I added my own interactions, visuals and custom code to make the experience more engaging than a standard Rise course.
Tools used
ARTICULATE RISE
MIGHTY PLUGIN
CANVA
ADOBE FIREFLY
ELEVEN LABS
Purrkins Café
Purrkins Café
Purrkins Café
Interactive barista training featuring realistic scenarios, performance feedback, and a questionable amount of cat puns.
Interactive barista training featuring realistic scenarios, performance feedback and a questionable amount of cat puns.
Interactive barista training featuring realistic scenarios, performance feedback and a questionable amount of cat puns.
About the project
About the project
About the project
Purrkins Café gives new café staff a place to learn the basics before their first real shift.
It teaches key skills in a playful setting, helps build confidence, and shows that you can create simulation style learning in Rise with careful design and a bit of experimentation.
I created the entire experience in Rise, adding my own interactions, visuals, and custom code to make it more engaging and realistic than the standard Rise experience.
Purrkins Café lets new staff practice the basics before their first real shift. It builds confidence through playful, hands-on learning and shows how careful design, along with a little experimentation, can bring simulation-style experience to life using Rise. I added my own interactions, visuals and custom code to make the experience more engaging and realistic than a standard Rise course.
Purrkins Café lets new staff practice the basics before their first real shift. It builds confidence through playful, hands-on learning and shows how careful design, along with a little experimentation, can bring simulation-style experience to life using Rise. I added my own interactions, visuals and custom code to make the experience more engaging and realistic than a standard Rise course.
Tools used
ARTICULATE RISE
MIGHTY PLUGIN
CANVA
ELEVEN LABS
ADOBE FIREFLY
ARTICULATE RISE
MIGHTY PLUGIN
CANVA
ELEVEN LABS
ADOBE FIREFLY
Case study
Problem and needs analysis
Problem and needs analysis
New starters with no experience can slow service and put pressure on staff. After speaking with a café manager who often hired people with no experience due to tight budgets, it became clear that the first few weeks were always a bit of a struggle.
New starters with no experience can slow service and put pressure on staff. After speaking with a café manager who often hired people with no experience due to tight budgets, it became clear that the first few weeks were always a bit of a struggle.
Experienced staff often had to pause their own work to answer basic questions, which slowed customer service.
Experienced staff often had to pause their own work to answer basic questions, which slowed customer service.
After these conversations with the café manager and forming an action map together, it became clear that the best way to support new starters was to prepare them for the basics before they worked their first shift. This included learning docket shorthand, understanding the recipe cards, handling different customer needs and knowing which orders to prioritise during busy spells. These were identified as the points where senior baristas usually ended up stepping in.
After these conversations with the café manager and forming an action map together, it became clear that the best way to support new starters was to prepare them for the basics before they worked their first shift. This included learning docket shorthand, understanding the recipe cards, handling different customer needs and knowing which orders to prioritise during busy spells. These were identified as the points where senior baristas usually ended up stepping in.
Action map establishing actions and practice activities
Solution
Solution
I created an interactive café simulation that mimics two short shifts. The first puts learners front of house, taking orders, keeping the queue moving and asking for clarification when something is unclear. The second shift takes them behind the counter, reading dockets , following recipe cards, spotting allergies and prioritising multiple orders at once. They learn by doing, which mirrors a real barista experience.
I created an interactive café simulation that mimics two short shifts. The first puts learners front of house, taking orders, keeping the queue moving and asking for clarification when something is unclear. The second shift takes them behind the counter, reading dockets , following recipe cards, spotting allergies and prioritising multiple orders at once. They learn by doing, which mirrors a real barista experience.
The outcomes reflect real cafe life too. Excellent service can earn a tip or a glowing review. Poor service might mean an unhappy customer or one who quietly never comes back. Missing an allergy could result in a full-blown health emergency. Experiencing the consequences of choices makes the learning much more memorable.
The outcomes reflect real cafe life too. Excellent service can earn a tip or a glowing review. Poor service might mean an unhappy customer or one who quietly never comes back. Missing an allergy could result in a full-blown health emergency. Experiencing the consequences of choices makes the learning much more memorable.
Customer service shift
Reading dockets/building coffees shift
Why a cat café?
Why a cat café?
The cat café theme makes the experience feel warm and low-pressure. Learners can try things out, make mistakes and explore different outcomes without feeling judged. It is easier to remember a situation when it has a bit of personality, even though the challenges reflect real café life.
Bringing it to life
Bringing it to life
Fixed reference tools
The docket guide and recipe cards stay in place during Shift 2, which mirrors how staff naturally check information on the job.
Sound effects
I added sound effects through JavaScript because I wanted actions to feel a bit more tactile. Small touches like this help the experience feel more alive and encourage learner interaction.
Coffee builder
The centrepiece of the project was the coffee builder. I created the imagery and developed a system where the drink layers stack in the cup. JavaScript provides personalised feedback based on learner choices, with 31 possible outcomes, keeping the experience varied and encouraging experimentation.
What this taught me
What this taught me
I learned how to work within the structure and limitations of Rise 360 by using AI to generate custom JavaScript for interactions that wouldn't be possible with Rise's standard blocks. This approach let me focus on the instructional design, the 31 drink outcomes, the branching scenarios, the feedback messaging, while still creating technically sophisticated components like the coffee builder.
I learned how to work within the structure and limitations of Rise 360 by using AI to generate custom JavaScript for interactions that wouldn't be possible with Rise's standard blocks. This approach let me focus on the instructional design, the 31 drink outcomes, the branching scenarios, the feedback messaging, while still creating technically sophisticated components like the coffee builder.
I also discovered how theme and tone can encourage learners to explore without feeling judged, making the learning experience more engaging and memorable.
I also discovered how theme and tone can encourage learners to explore without feeling judged, making the learning experience more engaging and memorable.