Wander

Maria Basile

Industrial Design, 2021

The lives of elementary school children have been turned upside-down by COVID-19 and the resulting transition to online learning. Being at home all day, kids don’t get to see and interact with their friends like they used to.

Introducing Wander: a game that helps kids, ages 7-12, stay connected with their friends even when apart, without the use of screens—it’s essentially an elaborate version of a pen-pal. In the game, players work together to create an imaginary world on a gameboard that starts as a blank canvas. They pass the game back and forth, adding and responding to elements within the “world” based on prompts from a guidebook. Wander encourages collaborative creativity and fosters social-emotional development for kids in a time when community and connection are more important than ever.

Maria Basile project image 2 — After each turn, the player takes the gameboard (in the form of a suitcase) to the other player who continues to add to their imaginary world that started as a blank canvas.

Maria Basile project image 3 — Every turn begins with a player responding to their friend’s creation in the guidebook. The guidebook then prompts the player to make an addition to the world themselves.

Maria Basile project image 4 — The cards, drawn every turn, prompt players to make different kinds of alterations to their world.

Maria Basile is an aspiring designer and lifelong learner with a passion for connecting people and promoting wellness through design. During her time at Ohio State, Maria has held internships at Design Central and the Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence. Maria’s love for design is fostered by her curiosity, innovative spirit, and her desire to help those around her.

Filters: 2021, Undergraduate Studies, Industrial Design, Undergraduate Capstone Project