To Go Games

Wearable Travel Games

Overview

To Go Games was a set of travel friendly games and accessories developed for my senior thesis project. My class’ thesis theme was ‘games’, and we spent the first semester focused on research; conducting user interviews, taking research field trips, and play testing prototypes. My key takeaway was that games are powerful tools for facilitating interpersonal engagement.

For my final project, I wanted to focus on games as objects of social connection, and noticed that a lot of “travel” games were simply big games scaled down. I saw an opportunity to creating portable games that were designed for travel. The research, designs, and model making were conducting in 2012, but I redesigned the branding document, updated the packaging and took new photography in 2020.

YEAR
2012
DURATION
3.5 months
TOOLS
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Solidworks
  • Fusion 360
  • 3D Printing
  • Laser Cutter
Process

1. Opportunity

2. Ideation

3. Pop Ring Process

4. Scarf Process

5. Brand

6. Packaging

Opportunity

Competition

While conducting market research about travel games, I observed that a lot of options were just larger games scaled down. Many of these games had hard-to-use, easy-to-lose parts, and often the game play suffered significantly.

I saw an opportunity to design games and game accessories specifically designed for travellers and people on the go.

Ideation

I quickly generated ideas and features for travel games, then chose five to develop further. The idea that seemed like the most fun was the Pop-o-matic ring.

Pop Ring Process

I made a rough working prototype, but scaled up to wrist watch size.

Paper models and sketches helped to develop the form and mechanics. I wanted to create a piece that bridged games and accessories.

I modeled the ring in Solidworks, working out how to be able to press fit the parts together. I decided to start by modeling a size 8 ring, to fit the pop pieces I sourced.

I had to print out several versions to find what the ideal dimensons were to press fit the ring parts together.

Scarf Process

I started working on another wearable game, a scarf that used the theme of travel for the users. It used coins instead of pieces so that parts would be easy to find. I developed a magnetic pin version of the Pop-o-matic.

Branding

In 2012, I started my branding document, developed the logo and completed positioning exercises. In 2020, I formatted these exercises into an expanded version with typography, colors and brand imagery.

Packaging