your instructors.
Shradha Jain
An enterprising gamemaster
Faculty, Game Design, Srishti
If there’s one person who can be credited for kicking off the boardgame revolution in Ahmedabad, it is Shradha Jain. After passing out from NID with a degree in Film and Video Communication, Shradha founded her game design outfit Studio.Clock.Works. Shradha’s love for Ahmedabad led to her entire family shifting base from Ludhiana, and settling in her newfound Karma Bhoomi. Restaurant Dilliwale, a family venture, gave Ahmedabadis a taste of authentic chaats and daals, needless to say with a side of easy tabletop games.
Shradha’s contagious enthusiasm, combined with a heady mix of visual design skills, and an entrepreneurial spirit heralded the Tuesday Game Nights at Café Otenga. Game Master Shradha ended up connecting young & old craving for a stimulating interaction. Shradha’s callings are boardgames and Ahmedabad, and despite her move to Bengaluru’s Srishti School of Art, Design & Technology, she visits her alma mater town at the slightest excuse.
Shradha will take the lead on facilitating this workshop, offering her expertise as a game designer in introducing play concepts and design.
Kruti Shah
A devout game enthusiast
Founder, The Hive
By day, Kruti is The Hive's founder, and by night, an active board gamer who loves to play tabletop games. Her interest in Eurostyle board games was ignited by Shradha when she introduced her to Ticket to Ride in 2012. Kruti would put her young ones to bed and secretly play through the night. Fast forwarding to the present, her girls are amongst her best board game buddies, along with her husband and mother-in-law, all of whom are hardcore game addicts.
Kruti has been a marketing communications professional, with almost fifteen years of experience in academics and industry. She loves to write and has authored a medical thriller 'The Aquila Trials' as well as texts on marketing communications.
An accomplished Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi dancer, a fervent traveller, and an art enthusiast, Kruti aspires to kindle the passion of hobbies in like-minded souls, which is why she has fashioned The Hive from her childhood home.
​
Kruti will co-facilitate this programme, bringing in her insights of over a decade of game play.
"play is the work of the child."
- maria montessori
Indeed, children learn as they play. And most importantly, in play, children learn how to learn.* The play way of learning has merits in higher education as well, with even the IITs recognizing a learning value in games. No wonder, game designing is trending on the charts lately. :)
While children have an innate ability to design games (watch a bunch of bored kids on a long train ride), their imagination can lead to a stimulating game with repeat value, with just a little bit of handholding. Sure enough, boredom can give way to board-dom!
This programme is an attempt by Shradha and Kruti to get children started on their journey of game design, beginning with their very first board game – conceptualized, designed, and produced entirely on their own! Kicking off by learning about the history and different genres of games, children will get to play curated games, and brainstorm ideas for their game projects with the help of an idea template. They will understand the importance of a narrative in a game, and how a story/theme can drive gameplay forward. With the help of available resources and digital tools, if needed, they’ll make a dirty prototype, finalizing it after testing it with their partners through social play.
Thus, over the fun 3-day design-a-thon, the facilitators will propel participants to create a compelling, playable game project.
​
*Play researcher O. Fred Donaldson
TAKEAWAYS
​
-
Know about the evolution & popular genres of tabletop board games
-
Comprehend what constitutes a game, as well as the mechanics & rules behind different types of games
-
Understand how to weave a story for your game and present it aesthetically
-
Develop a complete board or card game prototype using standard resources
-
Learn through social play by play-testing your game with partners
-
Get a free pass to 2 board game evenings (scheduled every Saturday at The Hive) for play-testing and availing feedback from a larger audience
-
Receive a game design certificate on prototyping your game
KEY SKILLS HONED
​
-
Problem-solving and critical thinking
-
Communication and cooperation
-
Creativity and divergent thinking
FOR WHOM?
​
-
Children 8-12 year old, who would love to play, and play to learn
1. Will this workshop help me in designing different kinds games, including video games?
​
Absolutely! Games can be analog or digital, solitary or multi-player, simple or complex - whatever the scope and scale, the process of game development remains the same. This is your first step to understanding how to structure your imagination to lead to a finished, playable game product.
​
2. Is this an experiential learning workshop?
​
Of course! Board game designing is a "hands-on," "minds-on" learning programme, facilitated by experts, that allows participants to take learning in their own hands. After an initial orientation of tabletop games and game design mechanics, participants feel quite ready to begin designing on their own. Through this experience, they learn several things, such as, the world has rules, there are exceptions to rules, stories make games more interesting, outcomes are based on the choices we make, and so on. Throw in the prototyping experience, which hones their art, motor & design skills. And playing a game designed by oneself is the biggest satisfaction for a young learner.
​
3. Will the resources be provided?
Yes, we'll take care of all resources - from game play to game design. Just come with your creativity handy. :)
​
4. What safety precautions will be taken at The Hive?
​
Our staff and facilitators are fully vaccinated. We will be playing in small groups. Masks are recommended when in close proximity. However, the participants are responsible for their own health & safety.
​
the schedule:
​
Fri, Sep 30, 2022
​
Sat, Oct 1, 2022
​
Sun, Oct 2, 2022
​
​
Introduction to tabletop boardgaming; playing curated games
​
Ideation & dirty prototyping
​
Playtesting & final game creation
5:00 - 7:00 pm
​
9:30 am - 12:30 pm
​
9:30 am - 12:30 pm
INR 1500
*Only 10 seats available
Cancellation Policy: In the unlikely event of The Hive cancelling any of its workshops for any reason, registered participants will be refunded the entire amount within 15 business days. Course dropouts by participants will be eligible for refund as follows: 30+ days before the event - 75% refund; 15-30 days before the event: 50% refund; less than 15 days - 0% refund. Attendee changes can be accommodated up to 14 days prior to the event.