Design Thinking: Experiment Phase: Game Something That Matters Design Challenge Work Days

Hi folks,

This Tuesday and Thursday are big, major, design and make and build and prototype days.  

The designs are due next Monday and you are expected to have a playable prototype and either video or slide deck that explains the intention behind your design, your empathy work to ensure your game is meeting needs and solving problems.

Here's one pathway to framing out your work between now and next Monday.

TUESDAY.

Prototype the Game Play.

Determine how your game is played and how that will achieve the goal of addressing the actual need -- whether it is making it possible for players to create solutions to the problem, to understand the complexity of the problem, to empathize with people who are experiencing the problem, or another goal.

If you are struggling, that's a very good place to start.  

DEFINE THE PROBLEM   Some residents [you can better define your target than "residents"] of Franklin County are experiencing _______________  because of ________________ and need _________________________.

Answer this question:

Is your game intended to help players: 

A. Create solutions to the problem

or

B. Understand the complexity of the problem

or

C. Empathize with people who are experiencing the problem 

This is a challenging design because you are trying to meet the needs of TWO user groups: 

one, you are trying to help those folks experiencing the problem.  

two, you are trying to help the players have a good game experience.

THURSDAY.

Prototype the Game Materials.

Cards, Boards, Pieces, Decks.  Make use of ALL the Success & Innovation Center has to offer.

We've got everything from 3D printing to laminating to recycled toys to wooden bits to LEGO to iPads to Makey Makey to LEDs and all that other good stuff in between.    

NEXT MONDAY.

Complete the Pitch Deck & Demo Video.  This will be what we share with partner organizations for feedback.  We will also be playing the games in class over the next several classes to get feedback.  

NEXT WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY.  We start investigating bias, telling  & begin our book-based design challenge.  Another narrative writing assignment is coming your way as well -- story of bias.  Similar to the story of empathy, this one will also ask you to use RESEARCH about BIAS in your piece as well.