Mission: Restore Arthé is an immersive escape room-like team-based simulation set in a dystopian future, designed for 11- to 14-year-olds. The project aims to foster civic engagement and social skills through a collaborative, challenge-based experience.
Research and User Needs Analysis
To ensure the design was aligned with the needs of our target audience, I conducted thorough research on the developmental characteristics and civic engagement levels of 11- to 14-year-olds. This involved:
Analyzing data from the Youth Voting and Civic Engagement Survey (CIRCLE, 2018) to understand the low rates of civic participation among youth.
Reviewing developmental characteristics from the CDC and AACAP to inform our design decisions.
Identifying the negative impacts of increased screen time and social isolation from the COVID-19 pandemic on youth development.
Experience Design and Prototyping
I played a pivotal role in conceptualizing and designing the immersive simulation experience. Key elements included:
Developing a dystopian universe narrative to engage youth, inspired by popular media like Black Panther and The Hunger Games.
Designing the physical layout of the simulation space, including both a permanent setup and a mobile "pack-in-the-box" option.
Creating detailed mission scenarios and challenges that required teamwork, negotiation, and problem-solving under constraints.
Media and Interaction Design
To enhance the immersive experience, I integrated various media components:
Producing an introductory video to set the context and objectives for participants.
Designing a communication system using iPads for in-game interaction between teams and support staff.
Crafting a website for participant enrollment and information dissemination.
Formative Evaluations and Iterations
I conducted formative evaluations with a small group of children and their caretakers to refine the design:
Gathering feedback on character preferences, challenge difficulty, and overall engagement.
Iteratively adjusting the simulation elements, such as removing a budgeting component and incorporating more collaborative challenges based on user feedback.
Melanie, 12, said she would love to see heroes similar to those in her favorite dystopian movies, which influenced our decision to pivot the project."
Aimee, 14, mentioned that characters from movies like The Hunger Games and Divergent were more appealing to her than our original idea of using magical creatures.
My role and contribution
As a User Experience Designer for Mission: Restore Arthé, I integrated research, design thinking, and user feedback to create a dynamic and impactful simulation. My role involved continuous iteration and collaboration to ensure the experience not only engaged youth but also effectively developed their civic and social skills. Through this project, I demonstrated my ability to design user-centered educational experiences that address real-world challenges and foster meaningful growth in participants.