Design games as a tool, a mindset and a structure Kirsikka Vaajakallio

three terms throughout the dissertation. I refer to these different aspects
as “play-qualities” to indicate that they belong within the “sphere” of
play, games and performance in general, whereas only some of them are
identified as meaningful parts of design games.
Given that these terms are so elusive, I find it essential to look at the
diverse ways in which they are used in the existing literature and in my
own experiments before framing my own view or drawing conclusions
about the terms. Similarly, I will explore and clarify the term “design
games” and formulate a more precise definition of its meaning in relation
to co-design gatherings at the end of this study.
Given the fact that scholars have yet to adequately define design
games, I doubt that I will be able to present a solid definition that would
cover all types of design games, not to mention games in general. Instead,
I will introduce different interpretations to gradually build an understanding
of design games as they emerge and guide co-design gatherings.
In addition to the lack of a clear definition, the literature on design
games is fragmented and lacking a well-structured framework that would
give coherent ground for designing new design games, analysing them
and discussing them. Given this starting point for the study, this research
project has two aims:
To explore and develop a practical and theoretical framework for
design games-driven co-design. Such a framework should be applicable
in the early design process where the search for novel
design opportunities is not restricted to the material world but,
instead, extends into services. In saying that I want to develop a
practical and theoretical framework, I mean that I want to provide
useful information both for academics and practitioners alike. It
will be built on a theoretical background that stems from design
research, co-design and selected perspectives on play, games and
performance. The word “practical” does not mean easy-to-follow
guidelines, since those are beyond the scope of this dissertation;
rather, it denotes the empirical grounds from which the framework
stems.
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To develop a set of design games that highlights the different aspects
of co-design and illustrates the implications of the framework.
The set will give empirical grounds for understanding design
games in co-design and offer practical examples. The design
games will also be developed to test the different aspects of design
games and, hence, they will shed light on different application contexts,
material settings, people’s roles in co-design gatherings and
play-qualities that influence the co-design gatherings and their
possible outcomes.
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