Ninja Climb
How can we teach kids 3D thinking through a board game?
Individual project
Client: Fugafour Games and Toys
2019 April-June
Final Project Bachelor Industrial Design at Delft University of Technology
Design brief: Design a game/ toy for one of our clients based on an online trend and/or social media content.
Activities: Trend research, problem definition, conceptualisation, visualisation, user testing
Context
Nowadays, children are being introduced to screens early on in their lives. These screens can entertain them for hours, leading to less time spent playing with physical objects.
Solution
Ninja Climb is a 3D board game developed to increase children’s spatial awareness and motor skills. The game consists of wooden blocks with magnets, metal tiles, ninja puppets, and dice. The game begins with a scared king on top of a tower. Starting tiles for each of the players are placed around it. Each turn, a player can place a block or a tile and move on it by throwing the dice. The goal is to be the first to reach the king on top, so you are the ninja who saves him.
Design Process
The game is based on two trends; the 3D aspect of Minecraft and the setting of ninjas. Children and students tested the idea multiple times, each time making it better. During the process, three meetings were held with the client, giving insights into the design’s marketing and production.
Modular design
The wooden magnetic blocks (the MAG BLOCKS) are sold separately from the Ninja Climb components. This way, the blocks can be used for generations and updated with new games every time.
