Mancala
Capstone Project
Task
Brand identity; an exploration of accessible play
Deliverables
Logo, illustration system, packaging, rulebook
Software
Illustrator, InDesign
Evolution of Project Goals & Intention
Creating a space that is accessible and approachable
to be present in our bodies and shared space/energy
to find feeling in our bodies and communities.
Learning how to design for people with visual impairments.
Mancala: a two-player, turn-based strategy board game that has been played for over a millennium. The game has been used for spiritual rituals, entertainment, community bonding and as a tool for teaching social, motor and math skills.
Investigating how ocularcentrism, a bias within Western cultures that prioritizes vision over the other senses, permeates every aspect of life (including play!).
Games often vary visual experiences through multiple colorways; so here I varied the tactile experience by offering different sets of pieces (called stones) and boards that people could choose to play with.
Learning about the curb cut effect: how features created for individuals with impairments often become used and enjoyed by individuals without those same impairments.
Format
Creating an accessible project that isn’t about accessibility (since all projects should be!). Instead shifting focus to the ways touch can ground us in the moment and allow us to meaningfully show up for ourselves and others.