Moodo | Design for Development

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Project Summary

This project involves the design and development of a digital interventionist game that encourages connection through play. It tackles the general problem of increased isolation and the importance of virtual connection during the COVID-19 pandemic. The key idea is to investigate play as a way to encourage connection between a family unit. The audience of focus is children between the ages of 6 and 8, as well as parents/ guardians of this age group. A non-linear design process is followed, ensuring the appropriateness and feasibility of the designed product.

Project Specifications and Deliverables

Project deliverables include the following. Process documentation (PDF) containing initial research on the topic, visual identity development, game development, prototyping, rationale, and a reflection. A tangible information design solution taking the form of a working prototype for an app, one user journey designed entirely. Lastly, a presentation of the app.

Project Rationale

COVID-19 has left many South Africans jobless and uncertain of the future. Behaviour such as angry outbursts, mental breakdowns, alcohol abuse, anxiety, and depression in parents and their children have been recorded. Mastering a skill like emotional regulation may be beneficial in fostering better relationships between parents and their children in these difficult times. Putting the 2020 pandemic aside, learning emotional regulation, in general, is beneficial to relationships.

Moodo is a creative, biblio, and dramatic play based game that teaches emotional regulation and emotional literacy. It materialises in the form of an app, and its core aim is to nurture a deeper connection between parents and their children. It fosters this connection through various aspects of the game. Children, playing the game together with parents, gain empathy and understanding into their parents’ emotions, and vice versa.

Emotive characters were chosen to be metaphors for different emotions. Children adore emotive characters and colours immensely, and because the app presents children with a game with endless possibilities of scenarios and characters, this makes the game desirable for children. The game is desirable to parents/ guardians because it presents an opportunity for bonding with their child while simultaneously building a valuable skill.

Moodo was designed with its specific target audience in mind. Buttons are large enough for children to tap, simple touch screen gestures and buttons are used, and body copy is kept simple and easy to read. Icons are specifically designed for children to easily identify, and colourful illustrations are used to create an immersive experience for both adults and children. Clear instructions are given before every game, and options for the number of desired players are given.

Moodo is designed to be implemented in the family home setting. Available on the App Store and Play Store, parents simply need to download the app and register family members. Parents and children can then start playing the game, no equipment needed. For up to 6 players, one smartphone is sufficient and comfortable, as the players will take turns building characters or collaborate on building characters and guessing answers to level one. Levels 2 and 3 have the same option.

Visual identity & game development