How can interactive game mechanics support beginners in discovering and learning Pokémon types through experimentation?

Over six weeks, Signe and I explored how game mechanics could make learning Pokémon types more intuitive, engaging, and playful for beginners. We approached the project through experimentation, testing a wide range of ideas and interaction principles rather than committing to a single direction early on.

Throughout the process, we developed five prototypes across different levels of fidelity, using each iteration to explore, test, and refine different ways of learning through play.

Our final concept is structured around three interconnected islands, each representing a different way of learning:

Memory Island — Remember
A space for recalling and reinforcing knowledge.

Safari Island — Explore
A space for discovering Pokémon types through experimentation and interaction.

Skill Island — Apply
A space for putting knowledge into practice.

Together, the three islands form a holistic learning experience that moves from remembering, to exploring, to applying.

For the final stage of the project, we chose to develop Safari Island in greater depth. The result is therefore a fully developed prototype of one part of a larger conceptual system, allowing us to explore the interaction, game mechanics, and learning experience in detail while keeping the other islands as part of the overall concept.

Process:

Concept art by Signe Winters