Wee Jun Jie / 0375271
Collaborative Design Practice / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative
Media
Task 1: Proposal
INSTRUCTIONS
This group project aims for us to collaborate in
multi-disciplinary groups to write creative
briefs, create designs that fit the user
experience of the project outcome and produce the
prototypes or mock-ups for user-testing that suits
the table-top game.
Understanding the game
In this module, we are tasked with
designing high‑fidelity mockups that
encompass all components of a tabletop
game, including the cards, game board,
packaging, and game manual. Our chosen
project is Sugar High, a science‑theory‑based game originally
created by our juniors in the previous
semester.
We began by playing the original version
of Sugar High, which Mr. Shamsul
introduced in class. This hands‑on session
allowed us to experience the gameplay and
identify several pain points that required
improvement. The main issues we observed
were related to the tokens, game board,
and cards, the gameplay often felt
cluttered, visually confusing, and
disconnected from the theme. This initial
playtest provided valuable insights that
guided the development of our Empathy Map
and Problem Statement.
Fig 1.1 Original Assets from Ori Game
Empathy - Research
Fig 1.2 Brainstorm Ideas
Fig 2.1 Mood board Sweet and Edgy Pop Art Style
Fig 2.2 Final Mood board Brown Cookies Style
To simplify the concept, we shifted toward everyday sweet elements. I explored ideas such as brown sugar and cookies, ultimately deciding on a cookies theme as the final mood board and color palette for our design.
Final Task 1 Submission
1. Game Research
We collected references and brainstorm
tabletop games particularly board and card
games to study their mechanics, packaging,
and visual styles.
Fig 1.2 Brainstorm Ideas
2. Target Audience
3. Project Brief & Problem Statement
Problem Statement - Teenagers need a visually engaging
and relatable way to understand
concepts about food and nutrition, as
the current Sugar High prototype lacks
the visual appeal, consistency, and
excitement needed to capture their
interest.
Empathy - Define
Concept and Theme Development: Mood board
and Art Direction
After completing our empathy mapping and
identifying key pain points, we
transitioned into the Define stage, where
we began brainstorming concepts and theme
directions for the game - Sugar High. Our
objective was to reimagine the game to be
more engaging, educational, and
character‑driven, while preserving its
core connection between game and
bioscience.
Mood board versions
Fig 2.1 Mood board Sweet and Edgy Pop Art Style
Fig 2.2 Final Mood board Brown Cookies Style
Initially, we decided on the theme “Sweet but Edgy”—a blend of candy‑like energy with a
rebellious teen attitude. The chosen style
combined pop art and graphic doodles,
supported by grain and halftone textures.
Our intended mood was confident, bold, and
expressive rather than “cute.” We aimed to
keep bright candy tones while balancing them
with contrast:
- Main tones: Hot pink, purple, orange, electric blue
- Neutrals/anchors: Off‑white, beige, charcoal
- Accents: Neon gradients or holographic tints to reflect sugary energy
This direction was meant to align with the
word “sugar” and create a
design that felt sweet yet visually
striking. However, after producing some
initial drafts, the team agreed that the
execution lacked consistency.
To simplify the concept, we shifted toward everyday sweet elements. I explored ideas such as brown sugar and cookies, ultimately deciding on a cookies theme as the final mood board and color palette for our design.
Typography
Fig 3.1 Baloo2 Fonts
Fig 3.1 Baloo2 Fonts
We selected two complementary fonts that
align with the playful yet readable tone for
our game.
Baloo 2 (Heading):
This font was chosen for its bold, rounded
letterforms that create a playful and
approachable presence. It adds a sense of
warmth and friendliness to the design,
making titles and headings feel inviting
while still maintaining strong readability.
Its expressive curves align well with the
game’s lighthearted and engaging
atmosphere.
Poppins (Body Text):
Used for descriptions and gameplay instructions, this font offers a clean, modern sans‑serif style that ensures clarity and accessibility. Its geometric structure balances the playful energy of Baloo 2, keeping the text professional yet approachable. This makes rules and educational content easy to follow, reducing visual clutter while supporting a polished overall design.
Poppins (Body Text):
Used for descriptions and gameplay instructions, this font offers a clean, modern sans‑serif style that ensures clarity and accessibility. Its geometric structure balances the playful energy of Baloo 2, keeping the text professional yet approachable. This makes rules and educational content easy to follow, reducing visual clutter while supporting a polished overall design.
Final Task 1 Submission
REFLECTION
Experience
Working on Sugar High was a dynamic and hands-on journey that began with playtesting the original version. Engaging directly with the gameplay allowed us to immerse ourselves in its mechanics and understand how players interact with each component. From redesigning the visual style to refining the game flow, each stage of the process challenged us to balance creativity with clarity. Shifting from the initial “Sweet but Edgy” candy theme to a more grounded cookies and brown sugar concept was a pivotal moment, helping us align the aesthetic with a more cohesive and relatable tone.
Working on Sugar High was a dynamic and hands-on journey that began with playtesting the original version. Engaging directly with the gameplay allowed us to immerse ourselves in its mechanics and understand how players interact with each component. From redesigning the visual style to refining the game flow, each stage of the process challenged us to balance creativity with clarity. Shifting from the initial “Sweet but Edgy” candy theme to a more grounded cookies and brown sugar concept was a pivotal moment, helping us align the aesthetic with a more cohesive and relatable tone.
Observation
Throughout the process, we noticed that visual consistency played a major role in how players perceived the game. The original design, while energetic, often felt cluttered and disconnected from the educational theme. Our team observed that players responded better to visuals that were warm, simple, and familiar elements that emerged more clearly in the cookie-themed direction. We also recognized the importance of clear typography and layout, especially when conveying scientific content in a way that feels accessible and engaging.
Findings
Our key takeaway was that thematic coherence and user-centered design are essential for creating an enjoyable tabletop experience. By simplifying the visual language and grounding it in everyday sweet elements, we were able to enhance both the aesthetic appeal and the educational clarity of Sugar High. The shift to a cookies-inspired moodboard not only improved visual harmony but also made the game feel more inviting and character-driven. This process reinforced the value of empathy mapping, iterative feedback, and collaborative refinement in game design.
Our key takeaway was that thematic coherence and user-centered design are essential for creating an enjoyable tabletop experience. By simplifying the visual language and grounding it in everyday sweet elements, we were able to enhance both the aesthetic appeal and the educational clarity of Sugar High. The shift to a cookies-inspired moodboard not only improved visual harmony but also made the game feel more inviting and character-driven. This process reinforced the value of empathy mapping, iterative feedback, and collaborative refinement in game design.