04 Design for Development : Pangea Games (Individual)

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04 | Design for Development | Pangea games

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Project Summary

This was group project aimed at designing a digital, game based intervention that harnesses the act of playing in order to encourage connection, the virtual/physical connection had to be achieved through play and experiential learning with emphasis on a particular theme/prompt. Some of which were : Food, Nature/Environment/Sustainability, Sports/Exercise, Science, Music/Drama/Dance, Arts/Crafts, Spirituality/Well-being and Storytelling.

A brand identity had to be developed for the intervention as well as user-testing in order to come to an effective solution that facilitates positive social change in a local context.

Technical Specifications & Deliverables

- Process documentation
(Initial research topic, Visual identity development, Game development & prototyping, Rationale, Reflection)
- Tangible information design solution (digital intervention)
- Presentation
- Rationale

Design Strategy

For this project, the digital app Pangea Games was created. Pangea Games revolve around the theme Sports/Exercise, it promotes connection through playing the game with many people which includes people playing together physically or playing together online. The game was created with inspiration drawn from the Olympics, the idea of creating a space for children to be active in a fun and engaging way. The Olympics combined with animal mascots creates a fun way for children to use their imagination.

This app is necessary for children to build a connection that was lost from Covid. It aims to build connections while developing motor skills with focus on promoting balance and coordination. The app is designed primarily for children between the ages of 6-8. The kinds of play included are biblioplay, sensory play and mastery play.

Process documentation

This project required primary and tertiary research to be conducted in order to make an app that aids in child development, and community building. The first step consisted of research on the benefits of sports and exercise on child-development to understand which areas within a child the app should focus on. The next step was focused on understanding the types of play in which sports and exercise can advance but the important part for this app to be successful was to lay a foundation of research and conceptualisation that would not only be visually appealing but also benefit that app users. Through user testing, surveys and virtual consults with the target market (children and parents), the app developed through guidance from the users.

Here are hyperlinks for an in-depth read on the research for this project and results from the surveys conducted:

Research documentation

Results of the surveys conducted

Our initial aim was to build connections while developing motor skills with an added focus on promoting balance and coordination.

Narrative:

It’s been a very long time since the animals of old have united since most humans have gone back to their caves (Homes), the best animals must come together to keep the world balanced. The animals must journey from the icy regions of Antarctica to the scorching Sahara Desert. They have to put their differences aside and work together to complete the tasks at hand. The Animal Captains of the various places have decided to host games that test the heart and soul of every animal but only the best animals can win.

Pangea Games travels from town to town to find the best children to join our team. You are all great and powerful and we need you to join our team. Pangea Games uses exercise activities to rescue people. Every activity allows you to be better at your attributes. The Animal Wheel allows you to take on attributes of the animals that you will use to complete the games

Logo Development:

Pangea mans “all the earth” and it is a super continent that held almost all of the landmasses on Earth. The idea is to play around with visuals of different places coming together to create Pangea in a child-like and friendly way. Originally there were more explorations but once presented to the kids these were the many selections that were chosen out of the explorations.

Meet the Mascots:

The hosts for this game are 5 animals that represent each continent in the world, this represents people coming together from everywhere at the Olympic.

We conducted interviews with the children , they showed more of a liking to the child-like characters which embody the anatomy of Pokemon characters. That was preferred over the other style based more on the natural anatomy of the animals.

The children said they liked how the illustrations look like cartoons and seem more fun (exciting).

The Lands of Pangea:

The map consists of illustrations from each of the mascot's habitats. So a dryland habitat with dry grass (lion), a forest area (unicorn) , a bamboo forest area (panda) , a rainforest area (jaguar) and a bare dryland area (kangaroo). The map will include the illustrations of the mascots next to their respective habitats.

Each game screen will show a stadium set up with the habitat coming through and a respective mascot leading the game.

Tools of the trade:

The Participants are rewarded with these medals after they complete the game. This is a rewards system for their progress with each individual mascot. Once a game is completed they may share their progress on the app and receive a coin to gain additional spins on the wheel in future games.

Each mascot facilitates a game. The user cycles stadium to stadium completing tasks thus earning trophees and coins along the way. Each game uses a timer to determine the winner