12.12.2025 - 02.01.2026 (Week 12 - Week 14)
From a gameplay clarity perspective, the team strongly appreciated the structural separation of gameplay zones—specifically the distinction between the base camp, daily stock area, investment area, and the main board. Compared to their original version, this redesign reduced confusion and improved readability, making the flow of the game more intuitive for players. This validated our design intention of using spatial organisation as a tool to support learning and accessibility.
Another significant strength identified was the integration of biology and economics within the visual and gameplay systems. The creators noted that the game clearly communicates that it is not purely an economics-based board game, but one that is deeply rooted in biological science concepts such as glucose, ATP, and metabolic processes. This successful hybridisation reinforced the educational value of Gluconomy while maintaining an engaging and playful experience.
Despite the strong praise, the creators also pointed out minor rule-based inconsistencies observed during playtesting, such as variations in the function of the Insulin Attack power card, glucose-to-ATP conversion rates per round, the 15-ATP shortcut challenge, and how glucose tokens are retained after certain actions. These were not seen as major flaws, but rather as reminders of the importance of clear rule definition and consistency, especially for educational games where learning outcomes are tied to mechanics.
An additional recommendation was the introduction of a dedicated glucose token container, separating player-owned tokens from the bank’s supply. This small usability improvement would reduce friction during gameplay and improve the overall tactile experience by eliminating the need to repeatedly access plastic bags. This feedback reinforced the importance of considering physical interaction design alongside visual aesthetics.
Overall, feedback from the original gameplay creators strongly validated the design direction of Gluconomy, confirming that the redesigned system successfully enhanced clarity, engagement, and educational intent.
Yu Tian and Cheng Tao, the design students noted that the colour-coding system (e.g. stock up vs. stock down) was effective in reducing the learning curve, allowing players to quickly grasp game states through visual cues while Yofa, the finance student similarly appreciated how the pastel colour scheme balanced biological themes with familiar financial indicators such as green and red market signals, aligning with real-world market interfaces.
There was also discussion around the hexagonal glucose token design, which was less immediately recognisable compared to conventional cube-shaped sugar imagery. This highlighted an interesting tension between scientific accuracy and public familiarity—an important consideration for future iterations.
One of the design student also suggested adding facial expressions to tokens to further personalise and animate the game components, enhancing emotional engagement without altering core mechanics.
From the finance student’s perspective, the gameplay was described as fun, intuitive, and innovative, particularly in how it merges biochemistry with financial decision-making. However, a critical observation was raised regarding terminology: the term “Investment” was perceived as misleading, as the in-game mechanic resembled high-risk, high-reward gambling more than traditional low-risk investment. This insight is valuable for refining both mechanical balance and semantic clarity to better align player expectations with gameplay outcomes.
This project was a valuable learning experience that strengthened my understanding of how visual design, gameplay structure, and user experience work together in a physical product. Through multiple rounds of refinement and playtesting, I learned the importance of clarity, consistency, and user-centred thinking, especially when translating complex concepts into an engaging and intuitive game system. Feedback from lecturers, original gameplay creators, and target users helped me identify weaknesses in layout, rule communication, and component usability that I might not have noticed on my own. The hands-on production process further deepened my appreciation for material choices and craftsmanship, as digital designs had to adapt to real-world constraints. Overall, this project enhanced my skills in iteration, collaboration, and problem-solving, while reinforcing the value of thoughtful design decisions in shaping meaningful player experiences.
Ng Kar Yee / 0367743
Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media
Collaborative Design Practice / Final Project
Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media
Collaborative Design Practice / Final Project
INTRODUCTION
FINAL PROJECT⇒ CLIENT PRESENTATION
For our final project, Mr Shamsul introduced
Client Presentation
to us where we documents the client presentation and playtesting
phase of Gluconomy, focusing on qualitative feedback from two key
stakeholder groups, the original gameplay creators and the target
audience. The aim of the project is to reflect on how the visual design,
gameplay structure, and educational intent of Gluconomy were
received, and how these insights inform future design
refinement.
ORIGINAL GAMEPLAY CREATOR
Playtest Group: Tan Yee Qin & TeamOverall Rating: 10/10
The original gameplay creators responded very positively to the evolved design and presentation of Gluconomy. A key highlight was the pastel-toned colour palette and cohesive visual language, which immediately set a friendly and approachable tone for the game. The mascot design was especially praised for being adorable and memorable, successfully anchoring the game’s identity and enhancing emotional engagement.From a gameplay clarity perspective, the team strongly appreciated the structural separation of gameplay zones—specifically the distinction between the base camp, daily stock area, investment area, and the main board. Compared to their original version, this redesign reduced confusion and improved readability, making the flow of the game more intuitive for players. This validated our design intention of using spatial organisation as a tool to support learning and accessibility.
Another significant strength identified was the integration of biology and economics within the visual and gameplay systems. The creators noted that the game clearly communicates that it is not purely an economics-based board game, but one that is deeply rooted in biological science concepts such as glucose, ATP, and metabolic processes. This successful hybridisation reinforced the educational value of Gluconomy while maintaining an engaging and playful experience.
Despite the strong praise, the creators also pointed out minor rule-based inconsistencies observed during playtesting, such as variations in the function of the Insulin Attack power card, glucose-to-ATP conversion rates per round, the 15-ATP shortcut challenge, and how glucose tokens are retained after certain actions. These were not seen as major flaws, but rather as reminders of the importance of clear rule definition and consistency, especially for educational games where learning outcomes are tied to mechanics.
An additional recommendation was the introduction of a dedicated glucose token container, separating player-owned tokens from the bank’s supply. This small usability improvement would reduce friction during gameplay and improve the overall tactile experience by eliminating the need to repeatedly access plastic bags. This feedback reinforced the importance of considering physical interaction design alongside visual aesthetics.
Overall, feedback from the original gameplay creators strongly validated the design direction of Gluconomy, confirming that the redesigned system successfully enhanced clarity, engagement, and educational intent.
Figure 1.0 Gameplay Testing With Original Creators
GAMEPLAY & PRESENTATION WALK THROUGH WITH ORIGINAL GAMEPLAY CREATOR
TARGET AUDIENCES
Playtest Group
- 2 Design Students (Creative Media)
- 1 Finance Student (Accounting & Finance)
Visual Appeal & Art Direction
Across all three participants, there was strong consensus that Gluconomy’s visual design is cohesive, cute, and approachable. The consistent art direction—from packaging to board and cards—created a unified experience that felt polished and intentional. The mascot was repeatedly highlighted as a key strength, particularly in making a traditionally “dry” subject matter more appealing to younger audiences.Yu Tian and Cheng Tao, the design students noted that the colour-coding system (e.g. stock up vs. stock down) was effective in reducing the learning curve, allowing players to quickly grasp game states through visual cues while Yofa, the finance student similarly appreciated how the pastel colour scheme balanced biological themes with familiar financial indicators such as green and red market signals, aligning with real-world market interfaces.
Theme Communication & Symbolism
While the biology–economy hybrid concept was well received, one of the design student mentioned that at first glance, the game leaned more heavily toward biology, due to strong visual elements like blood vessels and the mitochondria board. The economic aspect became clearer through gameplay elements such as stock market cards, ATP currency, and the mascot’s cash symbolism. The name Gluconomy itself played an important role in bridging this understanding.There was also discussion around the hexagonal glucose token design, which was less immediately recognisable compared to conventional cube-shaped sugar imagery. This highlighted an interesting tension between scientific accuracy and public familiarity—an important consideration for future iterations.
Gameplay & Usability Feedback
From a usability standpoint, several constructive improvements were suggested. These included:- Adding clear placement indicators on the mitochondria board to guide where glucose tokens should be placed.
- Increasing colour saturation to create a stronger first impression, especially for first-time players.
- Enlarging the mitochondria board to reduce clutter, as certain areas became crowded and non-stackable during gameplay.
One of the design student also suggested adding facial expressions to tokens to further personalise and animate the game components, enhancing emotional engagement without altering core mechanics.
From the finance student’s perspective, the gameplay was described as fun, intuitive, and innovative, particularly in how it merges biochemistry with financial decision-making. However, a critical observation was raised regarding terminology: the term “Investment” was perceived as misleading, as the in-game mechanic resembled high-risk, high-reward gambling more than traditional low-risk investment. This insight is valuable for refining both mechanical balance and semantic clarity to better align player expectations with gameplay outcomes.
Overall Reflection on Target Audience Response
Overall ratings from the target audience ranged from 8/10 to 9.5/10, indicating strong approval with room for refinement. The feedback confirmed that Gluconomy successfully appeals to university-aged players across disciplines, delivering an engaging learning experience that is visually compelling and conceptually unique. Minor adjustments to board layout, terminology, and component design could further elevate usability and thematic clarity.
Figure 1.1 Gameplay Testing With Target Audiences
GAMEPLAY & PRESENTATION WALK THROUGH WITH TARGET AUDIENCES
FINAL COMPILATION OF TEST GAMEPLAY FEEDBACK
REFLECTION
This project was a valuable learning experience that strengthened my understanding of how visual design, gameplay structure, and user experience work together in a physical product. Through multiple rounds of refinement and playtesting, I learned the importance of clarity, consistency, and user-centred thinking, especially when translating complex concepts into an engaging and intuitive game system. Feedback from lecturers, original gameplay creators, and target users helped me identify weaknesses in layout, rule communication, and component usability that I might not have noticed on my own. The hands-on production process further deepened my appreciation for material choices and craftsmanship, as digital designs had to adapt to real-world constraints. Overall, this project enhanced my skills in iteration, collaboration, and problem-solving, while reinforcing the value of thoughtful design decisions in shaping meaningful player experiences.REFLECTION
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