Cogni's Adventures: Behind the Scenes
Cogni's Adventures: Behind the Scenes
Ever wondered how Cogni the corgi came to life? Join us on a journey through the creation of BenCool's flagship product!
The Birth of Cogni
Cogni was born from a simple question: How can we make reading more engaging for modern children?
We wanted to create a character that was:
- Relatable - friendly and curious like real children
- Adventurous - brave enough to explore new worlds
- Lovable - instantly endearing to young readers
- Universal - appealing across cultures and languages
Why a Corgi?
Corgis are adorable, intelligent, and have expressive faces that translate beautifully into illustrations. Plus, who doesn't love those little legs! 🐕
Creating the Worlds
Each world in Cogni's adventures is carefully designed to:
- Teach specific skills - problem-solving, creativity, logic
- Explore different environments - forest, ocean, space, etc.
- Introduce diverse characters - building empathy and inclusivity
- Present age-appropriate challenges - encouraging growth
The Hybrid Experience
One of our biggest innovations was combining:
📚 Physical Book - Beautiful illustrations, tactile experience + 📱 Digital App - Interactive stories, infinite variations
This wasn't easy! We had to ensure:
- Seamless QR code integration
- App stories that extend (not replace) the book
- Quality experience in both formats independently
The Art
Our illustrations went through 47 iterations before we found the perfect style:
- Pixar-inspired 3D rendering
- Warm, inviting color palette
- Detailed backgrounds to discover on re-reads
- Character expressions that convey emotions clearly
Educational Integration
Working with child development experts, we embedded:
- Cognitive challenges - puzzles, pattern recognition
- Emotional learning - friendship, perseverance, empathy
- Motor skills - interactive elements in the app
- Language development - rich vocabulary, dialogue
Reception
Seeing children fall in love with Cogni has been incredible:
- 50,000+ copies sold
- 4.8/5 star rating
- Thousands of kids creating their own Cogni stories
- Parents reporting increased interest in reading
What's Next?
We're working on:
- Season 2 - Time travel adventures with new characters!
- App enhancements - More customization and features
- Multilingual expansion - More languages coming soon
- Community features - Share stories with other families
Join the Adventure
Ready to meet Cogni?
Thank you to everyone who has supported Cogni's journey. This is just the beginning!
The BenCool Team BenCool Team
Parents who test and share their discoveries to make your life easier.
