LOSTnFOUND
LOSTnFOUND
In 2022, I created this narrative mobile game concept within a university course. Having watched both myself and my two teenage siblings go through two years lockdowns and isolation helped me understand the issues of my target audience – teenagers and young adults struggling with loneliness, mental health issues or poor emotional regulation – much better.
SUMMARY
My aim was to offer a playful and accessible introduction to the beneficial habit of journaling and emotion tracking, which can effectively promote self-reflection and emotional regulation. All of this was thoughtfully designed to take place within a cute, non-threatening, and calming environment that was carefully achieved through the careful and loving conception of the project.
GAME DESIGN / CONCEPT
Virtual diaries or mood trackers are usually only found in the mental health & wellness app space, totally seperate from the gaming genre in general. This game lies inbetween those two worlds, building a bridge for people from either side to dip their toes into the other.
The goal is to bring more mindfulness to playing and more playing to mindfulness, so here, the two were combined. It’s meant to be a playful break for regular reflecters, and a reflective break for regular players.
ILLUSTRATIONS / CHARACTER DESIGN
The illustration style is round with thick outlines and simple shapes that radiate innocence and evoke a sense of comfort and trust. The characters, as well as the scenes are kept simple and ...well, cute. The player gets to do all their reflecting through the protagonist – a little astronaut. This character is a great solution when it comes to identification. Nobody knows what‘s under that suit, so there‘s room to project yourself into it.
The character design is simple and soft, and evokes a sense of comfort and friendliness.
The NPCs, whom the player will have conversations with, are of the same rounded design. Some carry a resemblance of an animal one might have seen on earth, some are simply personified stardust.
CORPORATE DESIGN / STYLE CHOICES
The game utilizes a vibrant color palette that strikes a balance between being visually appealing and easily digestible, evoking a sense of joy without overwhelming the player’s senses. With dark backgrounds, the game effectively emphasizes key elements, enhancing visibility.
The chosen fonts are the wide, angular Houschka Pro and, as a counterpart to this, round, condensed and thick Gobold Uplow. Houschka is used in the speech bubbles, Gobold is used in the logo and as a title font, i.e. in the diary entries inside the game.
The gameplay seamlessly integrates elements of journaling and gaming, allowing players to engage with their thoughts and emotions in a structured yet playful manner. Players navigate through various levels that represent different moods or states of mind, each designed with vibrant visuals that evoke the corresponding feelings. The user interface is intuitive, featuring a clean layout that prioritises easy navigation and accessibility. Thoughtful prompts and engaging challenges encourage players to reflect on their mental wellbeing while incorporating gamified strategies to maintain interest.
UI/UX / GAMEPLAY
Audio cues and animations enhance the user experience, providing immediate feedback that reinforces the connection between their mental state and gameplay choices. By incorporating features such as daily reflections and mood tracking, the game fosters a continuous cycle of mindfulness, encouraging players to return and engage regularly. This design approach not only supports personal growth but also invites players to explore the deeper aspects of their emotional landscape in a way that feels both satisfying and rewarding.