Tactile Board Game​

Overview

This project will challenge you to design and prototype a tactile board game for someone who is low vision or blind. The game should be an original design, not a copy of an existing board game. 

Materials Needed

• The writing utensil (pen, marker, pencil, crayon, etc.)
• Modeling materials 
  • Foam, cardboard, clay, etc. 
  • Filament (if 3D printing)
  • Scissors, ruler, tape
  • Something to brainstorm drawings on (paper, whiteboard, etc.)

Learning Objective Phases

1. 1. Identify accessibility challenges for players who are apart of the blind and low vision community that want to engage in a board game activity
   2. Generate multiple design ideas for a tactile board game
   3. Select tactile elements (textures, shapes, spacing, contrast) that communicate fame information through touch
   4. Design and build a functional tactile board game prototype
   5. Test the game by playing it to evaluate accessibility and usability
   6. Evaluate how well the game communicates rules, game state, and player actions through non-visual cues. Then iterate based on this evaluation.

Phase 1: Understanding Tactile Accessibility in Games

Students understand barriers in traditional board games and define an accessibility-focused design challenge.

• • Explore examples of tactile or accessible games
  • Introduce yourself to tactile design concepts – texture, spacing, shapes, etc.

Phase 2: Game Ideation and Concept Development

Students will brainstorm tactile board game concepts that prioritize accessibility.

• • Sketch out several ideas of game ideas and the mechanics of how it will work
  • Identify how each idea communicates information through touch

Phase 3: Tactile Design Elements and Materials

Students will make intentional tactile design decisions.

• • Explore tactile symbols, textures, patterns, spacing and determine which of these will convey information in your game idea
  • Create a final sketch of the game design that you plan to fabricate
  • Establish a plan on how that design will be physically created and what materials will be used

Phase 4: Prototyping the Tactile Board Game

Students will build a playable tactile board game prototype.

• • Start fabricating the game design by following the plan you created to make your product
  • You can always start with a simpler prototype to test how functionality of your game, then go back and fabricate a more finalized version
  • Make sure to fabricate the board, game pieces and other tactile indicators

Phase 5: Testing Your Game Design

Students will test the accessibility and clarity through gameplay.

• • Develop a test plan of how you will test your prototype
  • You can initially test the game yourself, but it is best to have someone who has low vision or blindness to test the accessibility of the game
  • Collect feedback on what worked and what needs improvement

Phase 6: Iteration and Game Refinement

Students will improve their game based on feedback from users.

• • Identify changes to improve the game based on feedback from testing
  • Modify the game to reflect the changes you identified
  • Retest the modified game to see if it reflects the changes, you identified
  • Reflect on the overall process, what did you learn?