The Amanda Project

Designed by Happy Cog, The Amanda Project is a social media network, creative writing project, interactive game, and book series combined:

The Amanda Project is the story of Amanda Valentino, told through an interactive website and book series for readers aged 13 & up. On the website, readers are invited to become a part of the story as they help the main characters search for Amanda.


The writing-focused social media network is designed and written as if by characters from the Amanda novels, and encourages readers to enter the novels’ world by joining the search for Amanda, following clues and reading passages that exist only online, and ultimately helping to shape the course of the Amanda narrative across eight novels. (The first Amanda novel—Invisible I, written by Melissa Kantor—comes out 22 September.)

The site developed over a year of intense creative collaboration between Happy Cog and Fourth Story Media, a book publisher and new media company spearheaded by publishing whiz Lisa Holton. Prior to starting Fourth Story, Lisa was was President, Scholastic Trade Publishing and Book Fairs; managed the publication of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows; and oversaw development of The 39 Clues. Before that she spent nearly a decade developing numerous bestselling, franchise-launching series at Disney.

A creative social network, The Amanda Project appeals to the eye and intellect of girls 13 and older.

The Amanda Project will continue to evolve, and Happy Cog will remain an active partner in its direction and growth.

Read more

Responsibilities

Content strategy, interactive strategy, community strategy, business strategy, user experience design, information architecture, graphic design, interface design, front-end development, back-end development, CMS integration and extension, ongoing consultation, design, and development.

Selected Work