Dilemma
I have selected this particular project to demonstrate my expertise and skills in the field of gamification.
Background
In partnership with Vejle Hospital, we addressed the complex ethical dilemmas that arise between healthcare professionals regarding their patients. For example, one such dilemma involved a patient with a blood clot in her heart - should she relocate to Bornholm, close to her family but without a hospital, or stay close to the hospital in case of future complications?
Through discussions with the hospital staff, we embarked on a design process to develop a solution to this pressing issue.
I firmly believe that interdisciplinary disagreements can be a valuable learning opportunity, as individuals from different backgrounds bring unique perspectives and focus areas. Rather than shying away from potential conflicts or crossing intentions, we must actively engage with them and seek to learn from them. This was precisely the goal of our gamified solution, Dilemma.
Gamification
We decided to use gamification as a method to engage and challenge healthcare professionals in a debate regarding their indifferences and dilemmas.
Using the dilemma game, users can see a physical representation of the dilemma. The scale shows the weight of the users' opinions on the dilemma. The game forces users to argue and provide reasoning for their choices and opinions. This gamified approach was primarily targeted toward doctors and nurses, who were able to use this tool to gain insight into their own biases and learn from their colleagues' perspectives.
The game consisted of five components;
1. Dilemma cards without writing on the backside. The users must write down the dilemma in question on the card. When used in the Staged Conflict Game the dilemma is predefined.
2. Persona cards without writing on the backside. The users must write down a persona for the patient in which the dilemma involves. When used in the Staged Conflict Game the persona is predefined.
3. Symptom cards without writing on the backside. The users must write down the symtoms of the patient involved in the dilemma. When used in the Staged Conflict Game they´re predefined.
4. The scale was used to visualize the decisions made throughout the games due to the weights of the bricks placed on it.
5. Color-coded bricks representing each of the three cards. The bricks symbolize which card category the user’s opinion was based upon and the weight of the bricks tipped the scale.
The Dilemma game consisted of three in-game activities which were collectively designed to help healthcare professionals solve a dilemma.
The Staged Conflict Game
The objective of the game was to prompt users to collaboratively consider and resolve pre-defined dilemmas, each featuring a persona with specific symptoms. The game mechanics required users to add a brick to the scale and articulate their reasoning to their peers.
The Perspective Game
The objective of this game was to foster empathy and promote a deeper understanding of the various viewpoints held by individuals involved in a patient's life. One user, taking on the role of the patient, was equipped with a set of cards that described their situation. The other users rolled a dice to determine their role in the roleplay as a relation to the patient. Based on the assigned perspective, each user was required to place a brick on the scale and articulate their reasoning, providing valuable insight into the complex interplay of perspectives involved in the patient's care.
The Nurse Game
This game is specifically designed for nurses, who are encouraged to draw on their own experiences to describe real-life dilemmas featuring personas and symptoms they have encountered in their practice. Through discussion and reflection, nurses are prompted to place their bricks on the scale, contributing their unique perspectives and opinions regarding the dilemma at hand.
Prototyping
To begin the ideation process, we kicked off with a lively and creative post-it brainstorming session. Through productive discussions and careful clustering, we managed to reach a consensus on the game's core design and properties after several hours of collaboration. With the game concept, mechanics, and components finalized, we divided the design tasks amongst the team members. I assumed the responsibility of designing and crafting the scale and bricks for the game, utilizing my skills in craftsmanship and design to create functional components.
To kick off the prototyping process, I used Adobe Illustrator, cardboard, and a laser cutter to create initial mockups for evaluation and testing. After experimenting with various designs for the scale, I settled on a simple yet effective design that served the game's purpose.
During the testing phase, I identified a recurring issue where the weight plates frequently caused the bricks to fall off. To resolve this, I made a crucial adjustment by designing transparent acrylic boxes to replace the traditional flat surface for the weight plates. This modification effectively addressed the issue, as the bricks could now fit snugly into the boxes, improving the overall usability and user experience of the game.
Once the mockup met my satisfaction, I set my sights on designing and constructing the final prototype. Using plywood and acrylics, I employed the laser cutter to produce the components required. With finesse, I utilized finger joints, slotted joints, and adhesive to assemble the scale. Though the aesthetic potential was vast, I deliberately placed more emphasis on functionality, a prudent decision given the prototype's intended purpose and the remaining tasks yet to be completed in the project.
User testing
We took the game to Vejle Hospital, where we organized a workshop with the medical staff. Once the participants were seated, we introduced the game and began to play. Throughout the gameplay, we engaged in a seamless dialogue with the users, attentively discussing their impressions and experiences of the game and the related issue. To ensure that we remained fully present during this sensitive discussion, we assigned one of our team members to take detailed notes and sketches during the testing sessions. In addition, this note-taking approach allowed us to generate comprehensive documentation from the workshop. Given that we were unable to record any audio or video due to the sensitive nature of patient information, our thorough note-taking provided a reliable and secure method of capturing the insights and feedback from the participants. The approach enabled us to stay focused on the users and gain valuable insights into their thoughts and perspectives.
