DESIGN(er) META Game

Abstract

Using a gaming mindset the authors have developed a serious game using questioning to address the multiple aspects of concept generation, visual composition and technical use of materials. The use of this game has fostered research and discussion in a course exploring the process of design. This paper will document the game’s development process and student feedback. Previously, assignments used “compare + contrast” essays to access mastery. While documents were well crafted, we found when students moved to generating their own ideas and solving their own problems, no bridging of the exploration was evident in the conceptual discussion with the students or the visual generation of artifacts. The students were good at the process of analysis, however no real transference was occurring. Using inspiration generated in the “MetaGame as Teaching Game” (Sharp,J., Macklin,C., Daer, A., Duncan, S., Nealen, A., 2012) workshop, the authors have developed and tested a game to encourage individual discovery and improve transference.