AccessHomeZero is a board game prototype designed by myself and Jaime Williams as part of a game design internship with Socialudo, a social-enterprise based in Stirling. Socialudo develops ‘serious games’ that provide a method for groups to creatively explore problems and produce solutions to complex issues through play. For this project, we were tasked with developing a board game prototype around the theme of ‘Eco-Ageing’. The game had to explore the challenges and impact of environmental and climate change on older people, particularly related to housing and communities.

My main responsibilities for this project were:

• Rapidly paper prototyping, testing and iterating through various concepts around the theme of ‘Eco-Ageing’.

• Working collaboratively with another designer, sharing ideas and providing constructive feedback to one another.

• Responding to a brief provided by a client and providing regular updates to them to ensure the project was on track and met their expectations while working independently.

• Writing up accurate design documentation, rulebooks and component lists that were all sent to the client upon completion of the project.

• Presenting the prototype to the client and a selection of Socialudo staff at several playtest sessions to receive and action feedback.

AccessHomeZero is an open card drafting game inspired by Sushi Go! and 7 Wonders Duel. The players are all homeowners trying to futureproof their homes against getting older while remaining conscious of climate change. They do this by collecting sets of cards that represent various utilities they can add to their house to make them more accessible and/or environmentally friendly. The design challenge for this project was to create an educational but engaging product that could be enjoyed by a casual audience while teaching them about the challenges faced in the house sector.