Games for Visual Thinking Scott Kim • shufflebrain.com Adobe, Feb 5, 2009
Dec 06, 2014
Games for Visual Thinking
Scott Kim • shufflebrain.comAdobe, Feb 5, 2009
Puzzles
I design puzzles
PRINT TOYS COMPUTER
Games for visual thinking
AMBIGRAMS DESIGN EDUCATION PHOTOGRAB
AMBIGRAMS
AmbigramsVisual wordplay
What letter is this?
Hint: it’s not L
Answer
A puzzle is a problem that is
fun to solve and has a right answer
As opposedto everyday“problems”
As opposedto a toy or agame
A puzzle is a problem that is
fun to solve and has a right answer
As opposedto everyday“problems”
As opposedto a toy or agame
A puzzle is a problem that is
fun to solve and has a right answer
As opposedto everyday“problems”
As opposedto a toy ora game
Ambigrams
One type of visual puzzle I’ve explored is ambigrams — wordswritten so they read in more than one way. Here are some
ambigram logos (not by me).
Ambigrams I’ve created
See more of my ambigrams at http://scottkim.com
Make your own ambigrams
chumpWrite this word in connected cursive, leavebowl of P slightly open. Instant ambigram!
USAWrite this so it reads the same right side upand upside down. S is easy. What about U/A?
AdobeWrite this so it reads the same upside down.Can you do it?
DESIGN EDUCATION
Design EducationPuzzles that change how you think
Working within a fixed form
Most puzzle designers work within an existing form
Topic: Letter parts
I let the topic dictate the form. For instance, whatpuzzle teaches the parts of letters?
Vocabulary
1. A vocabulary puzzle reinforces names, not concepts.
Multiple choice quiz
2. A visual quiz puzzle reinforces concepts.
Puzzle (adobe.com)
3. A perceptual puzzle, like this one from adobe.com,trains thinking. Match each detail with a letterform.
Counter Proposal (NewMedia)
Here’s a perceptual puzzle from NewMedia about fonts.Spaces in & around letters are “counters”.
Counter Proposal (NewMedia)
Match each counter with the letter it is from.
MystGrayscale painting
Elevation map
3D rendered image
The artists behind Myst converted a gray scale paintinginto an elevation map. White=high, black=low.
Cybermesh
I made this into a puzzle by using CyberMesh, aPhotoshop plugin by John Knoll, author of Photoshop.
Normal Face
Here’s how Cybermesh turns a grayscale image ofJohn’s face into a 3D mesh.
Inverted
Changing the grayscale image changes the mesh. E.g.inverting black and white turns the mesh inside out.
Posterized
Posterizing the image creates stairsteps.
Pinch
Pinching the image enlarges the nose.
Blurred
Blurring the image creates this ghostly face.
Finished puzzle
The finished puzzle: Match each image with a 3D mesh.
Surfaces of revolution
Surfaces of revolution
Match pairs of shapes made from the same cross-section.
Color
Morphing
Animation
Logo design
Magazine puzzles
A way of writing about a topic Regular puzzles increase loyalty Contests increase involvement
VizAbility
Interactive puzzles let you do more with 3D.
Vase/Profile
Figure/ground is a concept that works well as a game.The figure here is the vase, the ground is the faces.
Escher
Simplify
To make this visual illusion interactive, first simplifythe shapes by putting them on a grid.
Make Interactive
If you drag a black object, there’s white underneath.If you drag a white object, there’s black underneath.
Figure Ground game
Play this game at http://clockworkgoldfish.com/figureground/play.php
To play this particular puzzle, click on List, then scroll down to Sky.
PHOTOGRAB
PhotograbBrain games meet social media
Three trends
1. Casual games
BEJEWELED ROCK BAND
Electronic games are now for everyone, not just teenage boys.
Three trends
1. Casual games2. Mental fitness
SUDOKU BRAIN AGE
People want to exercise their brains, not just their bodies.
Three trends
1. Casual games2. Mental fitness3. Social media
FACEBOOK YOUTUBE
Media is now produced by everyone, distributed everywhere.
Games for healthy lifestyle
Healthy + Stylish = On trend
The three trends add up to games as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Photograb
Our first game is Photograb. Goal is to find details in a photo.Photograb exercises visual perception.
Photograb
Players can put in their own photos. This image is from Adobe Lightroom’s Melissa Gaul.Play this game at http://shufflebrain.com/standalone/photograb.html?mediaSetID=1096
Photograb
Player-generated content Syndicated games live on your site. Rating system
Next game: Wordstream
Conclusions
Conclusions
Games for visual thinking
AMBIGRAMS DESIGN EDUCATION PHOTOGRAB
Games can be used to teach and exercise visual thinking.
Interaction design
Like interaction design, puzzle design is about creating a gooduser experience. Except the path from start to end is trickier.
Thank You
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