Izma Shabbir

Reading Response 6

I really love that Artful Design and our course includes a chapter on game design. Game design feels like the epitome of design – a combination of visual, physical, and experiential design to elicit a psychological feeling within a player/user. According to the chapter, play is an integral part of human life, yet has no extrinsic purpose (307). Play motivates specific behaviors and induce mindsets.

This description of play reminds me of the work of one of my fellow designers. He explored how to re-introduce play back into the lives of people who have stopped playing. He did qualitative surveys and interviews to learn about experiences, and found that many people who have stopped playing associate play with creativity and making. He went further to research how children play in occupied regions and warzones, specifically Palestine and the West Bank. I always reflect on his work – is play a privilege for people who feel safe? I think, unfortunately, yes. The main distinction for me between work and play is the future vs now context. I love the idea that play is freedom (309) but I think about children or people who do not have that opportunities.

Another takeaway for me comes from when Ge says, play is done for the present (308), but work is done for the future. I think in a world where we all are struggling to be in the present and we are always reminding ourselves to be mindful, it’s a beautiful reminder that playing is a way to stay present and stay mindful. As a player, you are forced to be in the present. I want to remember that more for myself. The chapter also says that play is spontaneous, but I somewhat disagree. I know many people who feel fulfilled by very scheduled play – like Dungeons and Dragons or planned game nights. It’s very methodical but still fulfills the intrinsic need for play.

This reading has made me think about when I played as a kid and how I play less now. As a kid, I remember all my friends had Gameboy consoles and I asked my parents for one. My dad asked me if there was a such thing as a Gamegirl – it seems funny now, but it was a very fair question. It made video games feel very gendered and like it wasn’t really for me, so I never really got into video games. I love card games, especially a game called Kombio. Kombio is a card game that is so fun, and I love to introduce to people. It keeps you in the present, and you’re invested in your own moves, but also every move someone else makes. It’s a game where no one checks their phone. I also feel like I’m playing when I’m on a solo walk or hike and when I cook for myself. But I do think as an adult, I play less and less. I think I don’t even know how to play! For me, play involves a lot of imagination, and I think I don’t know when to use that skill as part of my daily life as much. When I make things I feel like I’m playing. But sometimes that feels like work. This chapter makes me think about how to reincorporate play into my life. What does play look like for me?