Playful Worldbuilding: A Foundation for Architectural Innovation
The value of digital environments in architecture lies not in their mimetic simulation capabilities, but in their capacity to foster playful worldbuilding, a process that can enrich environmental narratives.
UNM’s Digital Repository (University of New Mexico) · 2017
Key Findings
- 01Games offer value to architecture through playful worldbuilding, not just digital simulation.
- 02Worldbuilding fosters meaningful spaces by encouraging playful spacemaking behaviors.
- 03Innovative architectural firms are already integrating playful worldbuilding into their design processes.
Application
Design takeaway
Embrace playful worldbuilding as a method to generate deeper, more narrative-driven architectural spaces.
How to apply
Incorporate brainstorming techniques that mimic game design, such as scenario building or narrative mapping, during the early stages of a design project.
Project actions
- 01Consider how your design project can tell a story or create a narrative.
- 02Explore how interactive elements or 'playful' features can enhance user engagement with your design.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a novel perspective on the value of digital tools and interactive design.
- +Connects diverse fields (architecture, games, literature, philosophy) to a central design concept.
Limitations
The direct application of 'playful worldbuilding' to complex, real-world architectural constraints may require significant adaptation.
Reliability & validity
The study's validity relies on the qualitative interpretation of historical examples and contemporary practices. Reliability would depend on consistent application of Bogost's unit analysis methodology.
Think critically
To what extent can the 'playful worldbuilding' approach be scaled from conceptual design to the practical realities of construction and budget?
Design Principles
"Design environments that facilitate imaginative exploration and narrative construction."
This perspective shifts the focus from purely functional or representational digital tools to understanding how interactive and imaginative processes can inform architectural design. By embracing worldbuilding, designers can generate more holistic, rich, and personally resonant spaces.
What This Means for Your Design
Games can teach architects how to build imaginative worlds, which helps them create more interesting and personal spaces, not just digital copies of real places.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this research when discussing the conceptual development of your design, particularly how you explored different possibilities or narratives.
- 2.Use it to justify design choices that prioritize user experience and emotional connection over pure utility.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
(2017). Worldbuilding: a survey of games and architecture at play. UNM’s Digital Repository (University of New Mexico). Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/d07b36b4-d76c-41fc-9cde-d6cdbc13c572/playful-worldbuilding-a-foundation-for-architectural-innovation
Paragraph starter
This research highlights the value of 'playful worldbuilding' as a design methodology, suggesting that architectural innovation can stem from processes that encourage imaginative narrative generation, rather than solely from digital simulation. This approach can lead to the creation of more holistic and personally resonant environmental experiences.
Source
UNM’s Digital Repository (University of New Mexico)
Worldbuilding: a survey of games and architecture at play
journal · 2017
View sourceQuestions about this research
- What does the research say about playful worldbuilding: a foundation for architectural innovation?
- Embrace playful worldbuilding as a method to generate deeper, more narrative-driven architectural spaces. Evidence: UNM’s Digital Repository (University of New Mexico) (2017).
- Why does "Playful Worldbuilding: A Foundation for Architectural Innovation" matter for design?
- This perspective shifts the focus from purely functional or representational digital tools to understanding how interactive and imaginative processes can inform architectural design. By embracing worldbuilding, designers can generate more holistic, rich, and personally resonant spaces.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Embrace playful worldbuilding as a method to generate deeper, more narrative-driven architectural spaces.
- What were the main findings?
- Games offer value to architecture through playful worldbuilding, not just digital simulation.. Worldbuilding fosters meaningful spaces by encouraging playful spacemaking behaviors.. Innovative architectural firms are already integrating playful worldbuilding into their design processes.
- What research method was used?
- Qualitative analysis and case study.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2017 journal from UNM’s Digital Repository (University of New Mexico).
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- Incorporate brainstorming techniques that mimic game design, such as scenario building or narrative mapping, during the early stages of a design project.
- What are the limitations?
- The study's focus is primarily theoretical and historical, with limited exploration of the direct implementation challenges in large-scale architectural projects.
- Is there evidence that playful worldbuilding affects design outcomes?
- The study found that the core value of games for architecture is their ability to teach playful worldbuilding, which leads to richer and more personal environmental narratives, a concept already being adopted by leading design firms. This perspective shifts the focus from purely functional or representational digital t Source: UNM’s Digital Repository (University of New Mexico) (2017).
- Where does this games architecture research apply?
- Architecture and game design It sits within classic design research on designdex.org.
Related research topics
playful worldbuilding design research · evidence on playful worldbuilding · does playful worldbuilding improve design outcomes · games architecture studies for designers · playful worldbuilding and games architecture findings · classic design research evidence