1. Principles & Practices¶
Week Assignment
- Develop and sketch the initial concept for my Final Project.
Project Concept Overview¶
As a designer, it feels unconventional to start with a project concept rather than a problem. This approach seems a bit backward, as the project might be limited by my current knowledge and may not address a specific real-world issue.
Nevertheless, I have a few ideas in mind.
Who’s My Target User?¶
My target users are children, likely between the ages of 5 and 8. I’m excited about creating an interactive game and find immense satisfaction in seeing children engage with something I’ve designed.
Concept Approach¶
I am interested in tackling the issue of sedentary behavior in children caused by excessive video game play. Although I enjoy playing video games, I aim to design an innovative way to encourage physical activity. My approach involves creating an interface that promotes movement while interacting with the game.
I plan to develop a wearable device that syncs with a 2D game. This device will act as the game’s main character, with its movements represented in the character’s actions. The device will feature a LED matrix display or RGB light that changes color based on the character’s energy levels. As the player interacts with the game, the character will lose power, reflecting the depletion of energy in the device.
Visual and Functional Elements¶
The feedback mechanism for the device could involve a LED matrix display or RGB light. When worn, the device will interact with the game, with its color changes indicating the character’s energy and progress.
References¶
Power-Ups¶
Power-ups are common in games. This concept is inspired by the idea of energy: the more physical activity the child engages in with the device, the more energy and power the in-game character will have.
Bow Biters¶
Bow biters were popular during my childhood. They offer versatile design possibilities and can incorporate hardware to provide feedback on energy accumulation.
Next Steps¶
- Develop a detailed project plan.
- Conduct design research.
- Define user interactions.
- Identify necessary hardware components.
- Create 2D characters and game assets.