An educational, touch-based trivia game designed for visually impaired children, using 3D printing and laser-etching techniques on wood and ceramic.
Process & Inspiration:
Originally inspired by trivia card games, I set out to adapt this game into a more inclusive format for visually-impaired players. While creating the concept for the game, I conducted research and consulted with the National Braille Press in Boston. Having learned the legibility requirements of braille and tactical graphics, many of which rely on embossed or vacuum paper. By incorporating 3D printing on wood, I hoped to capitalize on this technology to further enrich the touch-based learning approach used in games for the blind and visually impaired. Specifically, the technique's capacity to offer greater detail in texture allows for a wider range of possibilities in educational gameplay.
My idea was to design an educational game that would enforce children's general knowledge in five categories, Geography, Culture, Math, Science, and History.
Rules & Instructions:
A player would receive a number of question cards (on card-like wooden panels), each of which contains five questions (from five different academic disciplines) that share a common answer with a distinct texture. The player must then search among the answer blocks - which would be scattered on the playing surface, for the one with the corresponding texture of the answer to the five questions - which has been 3D printed on each wooden surface to specifically attach to its matching question card. For instance, if the five questions all hint towards chocolate, the correct panel for the card would be the block with the texture of chocolate. Once the round is complete, players may then verify their response by turning over the answer panel to find the name of the textured item (i.e "chocolate") etched in the braille. The player with the quickest response rate would advance other players in score. This game would allow interdisciplinary approach by stressing more intersection between different academic subjects, as well as a sensory-enhanced experience that allows players to sharpen their sense of touch as a learning tool.
Created a marketing campaign to promote Somerville's brand. My responsibilities included redesigning the logo, suggesting and implementing advertisements on various stations (i.e. billboards, newspapers, durable goods), and creating wire-frames for a Somerville guide iPhone application that gives a thorough introduction into the key historic and current information.
