In this blog, Rohan discusses how we can use game elements in our everyday work or processes, using an example from an academic project. By gamifying design thinking, we can create more engaging and less intimidating experiences for participants and provide researchers with deeper insights that lead to better solutions.
Written by Rohan Aslam, Design Researcher, Bachelor of Arts, Communication, Culture, Information & Technology (CCIT)
I have found design thinking to be a framework that helps me understand the needs of others. It guides me through empathizing, ideating, and developing innovative and user focused solutions. However, when conducting interviews, focus groups and other activities, I find engagement and contribution can be challenging. Participants may feel uncomfortable sharing or are unsure of how they can contribute effectively. I’ve discovered that gamification of these processes can make the experience more enjoyable, interactive, and productive.
Lessons from Game Development
My personal experience with game development and testing has helped me realize that gamification is useful for design thinking. I have seen firsthand that people are more comfortable sharing ideas when they are engaged in playful activities. For example, during a personal project my group and I were seeking feedback, and we initially planned for formal interviews to get insights into our board game that we had designed. I noticed that participants were hesitant to share, and feedback was vague. I suggested that we start to play our board game and talk while we do so. Immediately the conversation became more relaxed and natural. The participants started providing more feedback. I realized that by creating a fun, stress free environment as we worked through the design thinking process, participants feel more comfortable speaking their minds which, in my opinion, creates the ideal environment for data collection.
Gamification in Design Thinking
For me, gamification involves using game elements such as challenges, rewards, and competition outside of gaming to strategically improve participant collaboration, input, and creativity. I believe that through gamification we can improve the design thinking process leading to richer data and insights from the people we are meeting with. Through my work I have noticed that using game elements such as competition, races, and rewards creates an environment where ideas flow easily and are incentivized. I have noticed that participants also feel less hesitant and reserved due to the combination of competition and play. For example, during orientation and at our initial meetings, the leadership team planned fun games and gave prizes which motivated even the most reserved members. We also participated in team based competitions that allowed for team building and for richer insights from all the participants. When done correctly gamification can lead to an enjoyable experience for participants as well as valuable insights which then help build solutions. However, I have found that it is important to keep a balance. If overused, gamification can distract you from the main goals and objectives of your sessions.
Incorporating Gamification
Although gamification has many benefits, it requires the right balance. In one design session, I noticed that we had included too many game elements. We had included prizes and competitions all at once. While participants started off having lots of fun, I noticed that the focus shifted from the goal of the session to participants wanting to collect as many prizes as possible. Some participants were more competitive than collaborative and the people started providing vague insights and feedback just so they could keep earning prizes. The experience taught me how important it is to have moderation in such sessions. I have found a good rule of thumb is to ask yourself the following: Is this helping us gain better insights? Will this be a distraction? Try to have team challenges, role playing or interactive activities within specific stages. For example, during the ideation stage you could have teams racing to see who can come up with the most ideas. During the empathy stage you could have role playing or charades like activities. Even when critiquing ideas or providing feedback look to provide scores alongside advice to make it more constructive.
Opportunities to Gamify
For readers not working with design thinking, I suggest implementing gamification in daily life. For example, using apps that track streaks and help build routines, team based activities during meetings with prizes and even small prizes for contributions. All these changes, whether in the design thinking process or day-to-day life, make collaboration and ideation fun in my opinion. When gamification is used right, it has the power to make everyday activities exciting and a means for growth. What do you imagine would be a way of incorporating gamification in your own space? What ways can you envision yourself benefiting from gamification?
0 comments on “Gamifying the Design Thinking Process ”