Language-learning app Duolingo has made its second acquisition within the design area following its 2021 IPO. On Tuesday, the corporate introduced that it’s accomplished a deal to purchase the Detroit-based animation and movement design studio Hobbes.
The studio had already been working with Duolingo on a number of options, together with its newer product, Duolingo Music, and different animation design programs, product structure and extra. With the deal’s closure, Hobbes’ 12 designers, movement animators, inventive strategists, inventive administrators and producers will be part of Duolingo full time to type the corporate’s first-ever devoted movement design group.
The group will stay in Detroit, the place their workplace is situated throughout the corridor from Duolingo’s Detroit workplace, practically doubling the dimensions of that workplace, the corporate notes.
Deal phrases weren’t instantly out there.
Previous to this, Duolingo in 2022 had acquired Gunner, one other Detriot-based animation and movement design studio that labored on recreation mechanics to make the app extra enjoyable and fascinating. Design and animation are core to the Duolingo expertise, which makes studying a brand new language or ability extra like a recreation quite than a job to be dreaded.
“Design is a important a part of Duolingo’s success, notably our use of character illustration and animation, which actually accelerated since including Gunner to our group. Now we’ll be capable to speed up our use of motion-design by including Hobbes’ distinctive abilities to our Design group,” stated Duolingo Chief Design Officer Ryan Sims in an announcement. “We’re investing within the perception {that a} extra animated product expertise is extra enjoyable and pleasant, and results in higher studying outcomes.”
