Word of Mouth

Haylee Bohm, Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design

Collaborator: Theonie Ho, College of Engineering

My project is interdisciplinary because of the multi-level construction and planning required to create a board game. I intend to include 3D modeled game parts and display pieces for the final exhibition. My collaborator is proficient in 3D printing and will be extremely beneficial in helping me find the most successful ways to construct and engineer the more delicate pieces of my game.

While I plan to collaborate with a student in the school of engineering, I’ll focus on the way arts play a role in my project through visual imagery. With my desire and plan to make a board game, I will lead the creation of illustrations and packaging designs. I also will incorporate more literary elements by creating a narrative for the setting of the game and backstories for each character. More importantly though, I want to bring all these elements together to focus on the dynamic way the audience interacts with the game. I’ve always had an interest in board game designs because they are art that’s meant to be touched, meant to be held up close and inspected by the player on a personal level. I want that to be emphasized in my project by allowing the players to dive into the roles they are playing as and including great levels of detail in the artwork.

As for creating this board game, I intend on following this timeline for the creation of my game:

Research, Testing, & Feedback (November 4 – November 22): Create a basic outline for game mechanics. Organize playtesting sessions with diverse groups to refine game mechanics and ensure educational objectives are met.

Prototype Creation (November 25 – December 5): Develop a prototype of the game, including gameplay mechanics, narrative scenarios, and character designs to figure out the aesthetic qualities of the game.

Production & Design (January 8 – February 21): Finalize the designs for all the different components of the game and submit the designs to the order online and wait for the manufactured game to be delivered.

Quality Control and Display (February 22 – March 28): Make sure all components are printed properly and allow for time to re-do in case of mistakes. Plan how to display the final game/project for the showcase in April.

My game will also have a local and community based impact. I want to create a board game based on the topic of gossip because, if we really look inward, we can all see how fun gossip can be. In a society where gossip is often viewed negatively, my project will redefine society’s lens on gossip and see it for the connective thing it can be. This engaging game will leave players thinking about communication and empowerment, and could even be used to facilitate discussions about how gossip can serve as a valuable tool for social bonding. Research suggests that gossip can foster community ties and empower smaller groups or individuals when dissecting the unjust system they are in. My board game aims to highlight these benefits by fostering skills to enhance players’ active listening, empathy, and critical thinking.