---
title: "UNICEF - Avatar Onboarding & Customization (Oky)"
description: "Design and implement an open-source avatar customization module for the Oky period-tracking app. Locked avatar customization behind three consecutive cycle…"
url: https://reliefapplications.org/projects/unicef-avatar-onboarding-and-customization-oky/
lang: en
updated: 2026-11-11
---

# UNICEF - Avatar Onboarding & Customization (Oky)

Design and implement an open-source avatar customization module for the Oky period-tracking app. Locked avatar customization behind three consecutive cycle logs to incentivize period tracking. Deliver localization-ready strings, integration docs, avatar animations, and low-end Android QA.

- **Client**: UNICEF
- **When**: Oct 2025–Jul 2026
- **Team**: 3 people
- **Services**: [App development](https://reliefapplications.org/services/app-dev-and-maintenance/)
- **Technologies**: Android, iOS, React Native, TypeScript, Localization strings (JSON), Basic analytics events
- **Industry**: Health, Protection
- **SDGs**: 3. Good health and well-being, 5. Gender equality, 10. Reduced inequalities
- **Client website**: [Oky App](https://www.okyapp.info/)

The UNICEF project, "Oky", dedicated to improving menstrual health and hygiene management for young women and girls, needed to increase period-tracking engagement by rewarding consistent logging. The solution: culturally-sensitive avatar customizer and unlock mechanism that motivates users to complete three cycles while remaining inclusive, safe for young users, and localizable across global markets. Designed onboarding workflow showing starter avatars at sign-up with custom avatars locked until users complete three cycles. Progress indicators (1/3 → 2/3 → 3/3) culminate in a celebration and guided customizer access. Externalized strings for translation, optimized for low-end Android, and followed privacy/accessibility standards with clear integration documentation.

Deliverables:

Drop-in feature package: onboarding workflow, streak tracking, unlock celebration, inclusive avatar customizer (skin, body, face, hair with coverings, clothing, accessories). Included low-end device, QA, acceptance checklist, and translation-ready strings.

Demonstrates delivery of engagement features that are privacy-preserving and localization-ready. The onboarding workflow and lean design apply to behavior-change apps requiring lightweight, globally-deployable modules with performance, accessibility, and safety constraints.

## The challenge

- Lightweight footprint
- Low-end performance
- Inclusive avatar customization
- Offline functionality
- Global localization
- Child-safe

## What we did

- Onboarding workflow
- Streak-based unlock
- Avatar customizer
- Acceptance checklist
- Low-end QA
- iOS and Android compatible

> Throughout the collaboration, Relief Applications proved to be a highly reliable and professional partner. They especially demonstrated notable flexibility with timelines and remained committed to delivering high-quality results. Code delivery was smooth, well-structured, and aligned with our technical and functional requirements.
>
> Gerda Binder, Unicef Product Owner and Global Lead of Oky

![Avatar Onboarding & Customization (Oky), UNICEF: screen 1](https://reliefapplications.org/images/projects/slides/p016/01.webp)

![Avatar Onboarding & Customization (Oky), UNICEF: screen 2](https://reliefapplications.org/images/projects/slides/p016/02.webp)

![Avatar Onboarding & Customization (Oky), UNICEF: screen 3](https://reliefapplications.org/images/projects/slides/p016/03.webp)

![Avatar Onboarding & Customization (Oky), UNICEF: screen 4](https://reliefapplications.org/images/projects/slides/p016/04.webp)

![Avatar Onboarding & Customization (Oky), UNICEF: screen 5](https://reliefapplications.org/images/projects/slides/p016/05.webp)

![Avatar Onboarding & Customization (Oky), UNICEF: screen 6](https://reliefapplications.org/images/projects/slides/p016/06.webp)

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