The document discusses stakeholder design and user testing methods for game design projects. It recommends having stakeholders help design games from the beginning, such as by providing design goals and materials for users to create their own game about a topic. Observing how users explain their design process provides insights. Partnered playtesting, where users play and discuss a prototype together, allows researchers to observe social interactions with the game. Paper prototyping tests design ideas at low-cost before development. Early and ongoing stakeholder involvement through activities like brainstorming leads to better understanding of users and a shared purpose between designers, clients and end-users.

1. GAME DESIGN FOR GROWTH
DESIGN RESEARCH METHODS

2. STAKEHOLDER DESIGN IN PRACTICE
Design as user research
• Provide materials and a
design goal
• Make sure assignment is
reasonable within time frame
• Have users explain their
design process to gain
understanding about their
expectations
Itir and Sonny make a game about financial literacy
2

3. STAKEHOLDER DESIGN IN PRACTICE
Design as user research
Rationale:
• Users relax and feel ownership over the environment if they can
make a material contribution
• Users design decisions give insight into emotional experiences of
a product and their expectations
• Reality of making the ‘dream’ product helps users see the
dilemmas designers face, so feedback can be more pragmatic*
*sometimes
3

4. USER TESTING APPROACHES
Partnered play-testing
• Have users interview each
other regarding an experience
both have had using the same
product under similar
circumstances
• Users can co-play a game
under observation
• Focus is on user interactions
with each other in relation to
the product
Miguel and Naz play a prototype together
4

5. USER TESTING APPROACHES
Partnered play-testing
Rationale:
• If users are shy or may not give researchers an honest answer
they often work better if working with a previously known party
such as a friend, family member or care-giver
• Gives researcher more time to circulate and observe. Can listen
to tapes or read transcripts later to get quantitative data
• Can provide insight into how a product will function socially –
which aspects inspire connection & conversation & which are
better as a solo experience
5

6. USER TESTING APPROACHES
Paper test before you build!
• Make & test a minimum viable
product in paper
• Include instructions as required.
No ‘help’ from researchers
• Users can make notes on the
prototype of where they were
confused or what they would
change
• New paper copy for each user.
Collate notes on prototypes for
discussion later
Paper prototype of financial literacy game
‘Gimme Some Credit’ ready to play.
6

7. USER TESTING APPROACHES
Paper test before you build!
Rationale:
• Much cheaper when bad ideas die on paper
• Gives users a version they can scribble on, much like printing
wireframes for clients
• Allows researchers to focus on the experience of using the
product instead of the technical specs
• Client doesn’t get bogged down in issues of look & feel too early
7

8. IDEAL WORK PROCESS
o
o
o
o
Understand the problem through conversation
Brainstorm possible solutions
Create test products
Test, refine or discard with user involvement in
each round of design
o Find the right product
o Develop product or hand off design specs to
development team
8

9. ACTUAL WORK PROCESS
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Get RFP or tech spec
Look for potential problems
Dialogue with client about ‘design latitude’
Negotiate contract
Watch deadline approach
Scrap experimentation phase
Design product to spec
9

10. ACTUALLY….
IT’S
OFTEN
A BIT OF
BOTH
10

11. BENEFITS OF STAKEHOLDER DESIGN
o Better sense of what users understand about
the issue at hand
o Able to elicit authentic data
o Sense of shared purpose leads to distribution
of power between designer, client and enduser
o Able to test and iterate with intended
audience.
11

12. WHEN SHOULD STAKEHOLDER DESIGN
HAPPEN?
o Tendency to involve stakeholders towards the
end of the project
o Better to ask for feedback early (ie; tackle
initial brainstorm phase together)
o If contribution isn’t sought early in the process
players could end up giving feedback on a
product that isn’t successful in their eyes
12

13. HOW TO GET STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED?
o Through partnerships:
o Community organizations
o Families
o Medical clinics
o Drop-in centres
o Schools
13

14. WANT TO LEARN MORE?
Questions or comments: mir@bloomdigital.to
Twitter: @bloomdigitalmed