Sparkle Trail and Dust Cursor Sparkle Trail and Dust Cursor












The Joy of Surviving  (WIP)
The Joy of Surviving is a board game that explores what it is to be alive and the existential dread that comes along with it.  

Problem SpaceThe sudden awareness of your own existence is a thing that everyone will experience at some point in their lives. The weight of this knowledge is sometimes terrifynig and overwhelming. What is your purpose? To create a family, to become wealthy, to find love, to work until you don’t have to anymore? As far as anyone knows, we only have one life to live, which can be scary, but it can also set you free. 

Design CriteriaThe game allows a heavier topic to be confronted in a playful way. Reflection is not necessary but the opprotunity is there for those who want it. Board games bring people together by strengthening relationships and introducing healthy competition. The colors of the game juxtapose the neutral gray tone to highlight the dynamics of human thought and bringing light into darkness. There is a repeated swirl referencing the easy-to-fall-into downward spiral of existential dread, but the shapes never meet in the middle. You can’t reach the bottom if you don’t know what it is. Let this game distract you from being too self-aware and allow room for play amongst the ideas of what it is to be human. The Joy of Surviving takes the things that people find purpose in and allows them to reflect while keeping the mood light and the competition fierce. 

This project was my college capstone. While there was a lot of time and effort put into it, I’ve decided to revisit, refine the visual elements, and focus on the game mechanics to make it more fluid and enjoyable. What you will see below is both the original finished product, and the process of improvement. 




Box Top
Box Bottom
Board


Rulebook Cover
Page 1
Page 2
Rulebook Backp
p