Cohesion

Board Game for Hong Kong Polytechnic University

The objective of the game is to support families facing frequent conflicts or communication issues by fostering positive relationships rather than just reducing conflicts. It encourages family members to view themselves as a team, working together to enhance their interactions. The game motivates each individual to contribute to cultivating positive emotions within the family unit. It promotes essential values for addressing various family conflicts, highlighting the importance of utilizing positive principles to counteract negative situations, ultimately strengthening the family bond.

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Cohesion by Chan Wing Ki

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Board Game by Chan Wing Ki

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Chan Wing Ki Cohesion

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Chan Wing Ki Board Game

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Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityBrand Logo

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Unique Properties

Cohesion is a cooperative fast reaction board game designed for educating the families who are facing negative relationships. Players must work together, utilizing different family values like appreciation, harmony, discipline, and warmth, to overcome conflicts and maintain family solidarity. Through communication and collaboration, the game teaches players how to deal with real-life problems in a constructive and positive manner.

Tags

Board Game, Family conflicts, Team Building, Family Dynamics, Conflict Resolution, Cooperation, Communication Skills, Positive Relationships

Production Technology

The design of "Cohesion" involved a thoughtful process combining research and creative methodologies. I utilized card-based mechanics to encourage interaction, with 4 character cards, 52 value cards, and 26 event cards designed to represent core family values. The 17 conflict cards introduce real-life challenges, fostering discussion and resolution. The board and acrylic tiles were crafted with precision to enhance the visual appeal. Iterative playtesting helped refine gameplay mechanics, ensuring a balance between fun and meaningful engagement.

Design Challenge

Developing "Cohesion" presented the challenge of balancing engaging gameplay with meaningful lessons on family dynamics. Ensuring that the game effectively promoted cooperation over competition required extensive research into family values and conflict resolution techniques. One significant obstacle was addressing the diverse communication styles within families, as seen in Millie's case, where misunderstandings arose. By incorporating feedback from family wellness studies and iterative playtesting, I refined mechanics to foster appreciation and collaboration, ultimately enhancing family connections.

Project Duration

The project started in December 2022 in Hong Kong and finished in June 2023 in Hong Kong, and was exhibited in Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre in June 2023.

Operation Flow

At the start of the game, each player draws a role card indicating how many base cards they need to hold. Players then draw two conflict cards, replacing any eliminated card with a new one to maintain two on the board. The game is turn-based; if a player lacks the necessary cards to resolve conflicts, they must discard and draw a new card. Players can’t show their cards but must communicate about them. They use event cards to gather required value cards to eliminate conflicts. Players must do this before the hourglass runs out to score family cohesion levels.

Research

Research Background The shift from large, interconnected extended families to smaller, detached nuclear families has led to increased instability for families and negative impacts on children. David Brooks (2020) notes that while life has become freer for individuals, it has also resulted in heightened family conflicts. Family conflict refers to active opposition between family members and can arise from struggles over values, scarce resources, and differing interests. Cooperation is essential for maintaining healthy family dynamics, yet competition often overshadows it. Methods The design of the board game focuses on fostering cooperation among family members to address conflicts. It aims to create a supportive environment where families can navigate challenges together. The game is informed by research on family well-being, specifically from a study conducted by the Hong Kong Family Welfare Society. Tools Board Game: The primary tool for facilitating family interactions and promoting cooperation. Score System: The game includes a scoring mechanism based on four subdomains of family solidarity: family time, family atmosphere, family responsibilities, and care and support. Value Promotion: The game emphasizes positive values to counter negative situations and improve family interactions. Participants The target audience for the board game is families experiencing negative relationships, characterized by frequent conflicts and poor communication. The game is designed to engage all family members, encouraging them to work together and strengthen their bonds. Results The game encourages families to recognize themselves as a team, improving interactions and fostering positive emotions. It provides a support system that helps individuals navigate life's challenges while ensuring they feel connected and valued within the family unit. Insights Importance of Cooperation: Emphasizing cooperation over competition is crucial for maintaining healthy family relationships. Communication Gaps: Addressing communication barriers is essential to prevent misunderstandings, as seen in Millie's family, where communication issues lead to conflicts. Family Solidarity: Focusing on family solidarity creates a sense of belonging and connectedness, which are vital for emotional well-being and resilience in facing challenges. Positive Values: Promoting positive values within the game can help families manage conflicts more effectively and build stronger relationships.

Inspiration

The pandemic has led to extended periods of time spent at home with family, resulting in an increase in family conflicts. This rise in conflicts can be attributed to more frequent communication, differing interests, and inconsistent views and opinions on various matters. Interestingly, many of these conflicts often begin with positive intentions but can end in negative feelings. My board game design aims to address these dynamics by encouraging open communication and understanding.

Image Credits

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Project Overview

Cohesion Board Game has been a Iron winner in the Education, Teaching Aid and Training Content Design award category in the year 2024 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.

Iron Recognition

Chan Wing Ki was recognized with the coveted Iron A' Design Award in 2025, a testament to excellence of their work Cohesion Board Game.

Chan Wing Ki Newsroom

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