How do we design for a multispecies world? How do we consider the perspective of non-humans in the construction of new environments? Game of Animals is a tool for multispecies design. It is a non-linear, open-ended, and iterative tool that borrows directly from the methods of role playing games (RPGs) like Dungeons and Dragons in order to explore the dynamism and unpredictability of our encounters with other species. There are two roles, game master and player. The game master is the designer who brings a draft of the design - say a new garden - to the board and creates scenarios. Players (an unlimited amount) play the role of a species - say a dog - of their choosing. The game master and player then tell stories, the game master describing the design and the players imagining how they would approach the design as the species. The game master can use this opportunity to test out various design features and scenarios and see how various players would respond to it and to each other. Through this way, the game master / designer generates feedback that can help them as they create the next version of the design. Gamifying the designer-client encounter enriches the experience and challenges participants to think outside of the box. Rather than asking “what do you want?,” the game of animals prompts you think “what would you do?”
The rules of the game
Playtesting on progress