Prototyping Design-a-Game: Our New Process Art Event
One of our favorite things at Now. Make. Art. is developing new process art events. This year we have not one, but TWO new events to share with everyone— Garbage Friends and Design-a-Game.
We had the chance to prototype our first Design-a-Game event at Saint Paul Public Library’s Hayden Heights branch. It was an intimate turn out, but gave us a great chance to see the new event in practice.
What is Design-a-Game, you ask? It’s simple! Using a variety of art materials, participants get to dream up their very own game! It could be a board game, card game, or even the beginnings of a video game. The games can be simple or involve complex game mechanics.
We had three amazing games created at the event, all unique.
Block Maze-
This was made by a young person who hasn’t played that many board games, but is very familiar with video games. He brought elements of video games to his 3 person game called Block Maze. Spending over an HOUR developing it, we were even able to play the game when he was done!
The game involved picking cards that had either moves or special actions. You could earn coins that would help buy boosts. First person to the end wins!
As he was leaving, he said multiple times “This is my first time ever making a custom board game!” You could see the pride beaming from him!
Soccerton-
Wanting to design a game around soccer, the designer of this game embraced the iterative design process and explore different mechanics. Their original game board design changed as they took it from an idea to prototype.
The 4 player game involves rolling a dice and collecting instructional cards. Different spots on the board would give you different points, and earning points would lead to making goals.
Sadly, this young person didn’t have time to finish their game before they had to leave, but we hope it inspired them to keep prototyping!
Untitled Gingerbread Man Game-
This young person had a vision from the moment they sat down. Thinking of their favorite game, Candyland, they got to work on the game board while their caregiver help shape some gingerbread game pieces. Luckily we’d figured out a little earlier how to make a working spinner (the key is to use a paperclip), and they decided to make one for themselves. Each turn, a player would move a certain number of spaces on the board. The first to reach the magical house at the end would win!
Not only was a great to see young people’s creativity in action, these prototyping events really give us a chance to hone into what materials we want for a specific event. It allows us to test out different questions to ask and it helps us understand what struggles young people might face. Even our long standing events like CLAY CITY and Cardboard Invention Convention, we’re always looking for ways to optimize the open-ended and playful nature of our events!
We have a number of Design-a-Game events this summer, so come out and get making with us!
June 24- Albany Library
June 25- Inver Glen Library
June 28- Buffalo Environmental Fair
July 19- Dayton's Bluff Library
July 21- Big Lake Library
July 22- Elk River Library
July 24- Ridgedale Library
August 7- Webber Park Library
August 11- Richmond Library
Check out our calendar for more details!