Group members:
Mansi Chottani, Kye Li Chia, Ruoxi Song
Research question:
How can we preserve traditions through games?
Our solution
Introducing traditional games to the public through a local traditional games fest
Date:
3rd July - 24th November 2023
We organised our traditional games festival across two days, on November 16th and 17th, held at Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park. Our setup included a board featuring four distinct traditional games accompanied by an introduction outlining our project's purpose and who we are. Additionally, we distributed stickers and Pajis as promotional materials for both the project and the games.
We were fortunate to witness considerable public engagement on November 16th, despite the gloomy and rainy weather. However, on the following sunny day, we experienced even higher levels of engagement compared to the previous one.
Insightful observations and valuable feedback emerged from the fest:
Observations:
- Passersby paused to watch and praised the concept, commenting positively on the innovative idea and the appealing nature of the game. Numerous individuals took photos of our ludo board, especially when people were actively engaged in playing.
- A woman stopped to capture a photo, thinking her granddaughter would find it appealing.
- The infographics lacked clarity, participants seeked clarification from us.
- No one engaged with the QR code; instead, they preferred asking for information directly.
- The display stood out, attracting attention, particularly from those with children, who showed greater interest in participating compared to adults.
- Many remarked on their nostalgic memories, mentioning they had played similar games in their youth.
- When attempting to film the fest, people avoided the camera, expressing reluctance to be recorded, despite their interest in the display.
- Parents shared their nostalgic experiences with their children.
Feedback:
- The concept successfully encouraged people to disconnect from their phones and engage in simple, enjoyable activities if they chose to participate.
- Some attendees identified similarities between the games showcased and traditional African games, expressing interest in creating their own game.
- Familiarity with similar games in their respective countries allowed some to play without needing instructions.
- Individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, such as Nigeria and Japan, expressed their delight in experiencing games they played before, appreciating the use of natural materials and expressing a desire to engage in similar events in the future.
- One participant envisioned a larger fest with diverse games, similar to a food festival, spread throughout the park.
- Participant said the infographics would be better with clearer instructions provided through visuals, arrows, and highlighted keywords.
After initially hesitating to conduct public testing due to apprehension about approaching people, we pushed ourselves to engage with the public, gradually growing more at ease in doing so. Hosting the fest in public turned out to be a rewarding decision, offering us feedback from our intended audience and an unbiased perspective. While the fest was a success, our reflections offered significant insights.
Reflections:
We recognise a flaw in our project's documentation, particularly in capturing little details that could have significantly enriched our understanding. While our primary focus was on encouraging public engagement in traditional games, we regret not capturing subtler interactions like facial expressions, comments, and body language, which could have provided valuable insights. Obtaining participant consent for filming posed a challenge, resulting in a lack of initial spontaneous reactions from festival attendees.
Moreover, our intense focus on facilitating public interaction with the fest led us to overlook preparing follow-up questions about the value of preserving traditions. In future endeavors, we aim to be better prepared, ensuring comprehensive planning and readiness to address such aspects.