Design games as a tool, a mindset and a structure Kirsikka Vaajakallio
Design games as a tool, a mindset and a structure Kirsikka Vaajakallio
Design games as a tool, a mindset and a structure Kirsikka Vaajakallio
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4.4<br />
The<br />
fun<br />
of<br />
playing<br />
Fig. 43<br />
<strong>Design</strong> <strong>games</strong>’ visual outcomes varied; common to all is making intangibles tangible through<br />
some sort of game material.<br />
4.4.1<br />
Project<br />
planning<br />
game:<br />
setting<br />
a<br />
common<br />
vision<br />
The overall aim w<strong>as</strong> to become aware of potential contradictions early enough<br />
<strong>and</strong> reach a jointly created <strong>and</strong> agreed project plan for the c<strong>as</strong>e study. The<br />
players were project stakeholders (potential users were not involved), <strong>and</strong> the<br />
number of participants varied from three to four in one group. Before actually<br />
proceeding with the game, <strong>as</strong> warming-up activity the participants from<br />
the partnering company were <strong>as</strong>ked to describe their typical development<br />
process by drawing <strong>and</strong> explaining the ph<strong>as</strong>es, telling who were involved <strong>and</strong><br />
at which points different decisions were made, etc.<br />
The unfolding of the game can be roughly described by the four ph<strong>as</strong>es:<br />
1) the game starts by choosing the labels that illustrate the main activities<br />
in the design process; 2) the goals are specified for each ph<strong>as</strong>e <strong>and</strong> written<br />
down on post-it notes; 3) possible methods are presented, proposed <strong>and</strong><br />
negotiated so that they meet the addressed goals; <strong>and</strong> 4) resources are allocated<br />
accordingly. The warm-up activity <strong>and</strong> the game l<strong>as</strong>t around two<br />
hours, after which the created project plans are discussed through. If there<br />
are competing proposals, they are presented <strong>and</strong> compared to formulate a<br />
final agreement on the plan for the c<strong>as</strong>e study. Below there is an example<br />
from a Project Planning Game played out in the second c<strong>as</strong>e study organised<br />
in collaboration with the OPK bank.<br />
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