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

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