Serious Game for Outbreak Protocols

Serious game for outbreak protocols

2018, Game design, OCAD University

In collaboration with Melissa Frew and Pearl Chen, I explored the use of serious games in training for PPE protocols. Using the current Ebola protocols for PPE at UHN we broke down the process of donning (or putting on) equipment and created a cooperative game that could be played by anyone.

Role / Researcher, designer, art director

Timeline / September to December 2018

“How might we make learning the process of donning PPE more fun and accessible?”

The design process

Brief

This project was for a course in human factors. We were asked to create a solution that will reduce the number of potential breaches while wearing and removing personal protective equipment (PPE), specifically for the Ebola context.

Research & prototype

We began our project with research into the spread of Ebola, how communities respond to viral outbreaks, and hospital protocols. Through a Lotus Blossom activity it emerged that we could make something fun, possibly a game. We broadened our research to include playing co-operative games and started to map the donning and doffing process to a game board.

Usability testing

Once we had a refined, mid-fidelity prototype we created a usability testing plan and ran testing through the labs at Healthcare Human Factors in UHN. We recorded audio and video and took notes while observing our users. This led to many insights on game play speed, board design, and what to do next.

Refinement

We refined the design into a table-top board game, meant to be used during training for PPE protocols. The final design focusses on PPE for Ebola but the format could be modified for any PPE procedures and in industries beyond healthcare.

I created a brand for the game that feels classic and professional but maintains a sense of playfulness. I used colour to show connections between stages on the board and emphasized disruptions through high contrast borders and lack of colour. The simplicity of the board allows for attention to be focussed on the illustrations of PPE that take centre stage in the game.