Who knows how to grow their own food anymore? It seems like the only people who know anything about gardening are over 60. Younger generations like us have no idea how to grow their own food as we noticed on our own while researching the topic. How much sun do radishes need? How much water does lettuce need? Should I plant potatoes next to onions? All of these questions are important when considering to grow your own garden. But most often spread across multiple websites and books. We strived to answered all those questions in our game, which teaches young people the joy of growing their own food.

The project started with some deep research. We dug into the challenges that people face when they have gardens. After getting a good understanding of those struggles, we got creative and started brainstorming different solutions using a variety of approaches. One idea that sprouted from this was a raised bed set specifically designed for balconies. This would be perfect for people living in city apartments who might not have access to a traditional garden but still want to enjoy the fun of growing their own plants. Another idea that came to mind was a game, that would be a fun and engaging way to help people learn about gardening, especially younger generations who might not have much experience with it.

As you might have guessed, we ultimately decided to go with the game idea. We created an initial paper prototype early on and tested the concept with friends. We quickly noticed that the font size and card size were a problem, especially for younger children. The cards were also too full of information.

After another iteration of the implementation, we implemented the product in a final version. We paid attention to thick, easy-to-grip playing cards and floor tiles. We then tested the game with 2 school classes of 3rd and 4th graders. The students learned a lot from the game experience. Even after playing it once, they remembered a large part of the information on the cards. The teachers were also convinced of the product and saw it as a potential integration into the teaching.