Digital Innovation: Transforming a Beloved Television Series for the App Generation

The Opportunity

When Reading Rainbow sought to evolve from its Emmy-winning television heritage to reach a new generation of digital-native children, they faced a significant challenge. After securing significant startup funding, they needed to rapidly create a library of interactive digital books that would maintain the brand's educational integrity while delivering an engaging digital experience. The timeline was ambitious—yet the team struggled to translate even a single physical picture book into a digital format that met the standards for approval. With a library of 150 interactive books required launch and only three months to go, Ryan Modjeski was brought in to solve an impossible problem.

Our Approach

Initially engaged as a consultant through Honeybee Labs (now part of The Delacorte Group), Ryan Modjeski and his team developed the strategic approach to digital content production:

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1. Prototype Development: Pioneering UI and UX elements that became standard across the industry, created a proof-of-concept interactive book that established the quality standard and received immediate publisher approval

2. Production System Design: Designed a scalable "digital factory" production system that balanced quality with efficiency

3. Team Excellence: Rapidly assembled, trained and led a specialized team of 12 digital professionals with complementary skills in education, design, and technology

4. Publishing Partnerships: Established collaborative relationships with leading children's book publishers, ensuring access to premium content while respecting intellectual property

5. Quality Control: Implemented rigorous educational and interactive design standards that maintained Reading Rainbow's trusted brand integrity

The Impact

The digital transformation initiative delivered extraordinary results:

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• Rapid Execution: Completed 150 publisher-approved interactive books within the three-month timeline

• Market Leadership: The app became Apple's #1 paid education app for three consecutive years

• Industry Innovation: Pioneered a new digital distribution model for picture books that has since been widely adopted

• Acquisition Success: The success of the digital strategy led to a time-wide acqui-hire, with Ryan Modjeski joining Reading Rainbow's leadership team as Director of Product 

This transformation enabled Reading Rainbow to successfully bridge from television to digital, maintaining its educational mission while engaging a new generation of readers through innovative technology.