Chance – Anani Konuwa

A fast paced card game of skill, luck, and excitement!

My Role:

Lead UX/UI Designer, UX Researcher, UI Writer

Timeline:

2 Months

Tools Used:

Canva, Figma

My Role: Lead UX/UI Designer, UX Researcher, UI Writer

Timeline: 2 Months

Tools Used: Canva, Figma

Background

Growing up, my family bonded over countless board and card games. I fondly remember thrilling Uno and Spades sessions during power outages and beach vacations. My wife introduced me to a version of Chance using a standard deck of cards while visiting my ailing father in the hospital, providing a great distraction during our time in the waiting room. After hours of play, we searched for it in stores and online, only to find it didn’t exist. This inspired us to create and share this fun family game with others around the world.

Goals

Create an entertaining game for families to play together, especially for those concerned about limiting screen use.

Problem

In today’s digital age, smartphones, TVs, and computers dominate entertainment, often isolating rather than uniting families. Card games, however, bring people together for hours of fun. Can introducing more fun non-digital games still keep a healthy balance of analog and digital entertainment?

Highlights of the Design Process

I knew I wanted the lotus to be part of the final design, so I used it as the focal point while creating variations for the future logo. Through rapid design iteration, I aimed to develop multiple concepts that could potentially be combined into a cohesive brand logo. Using Figma, I created 11 different designs, which ultimately inspired the final logo.

As anticipated, I drew inspiration from several of the rapid designs of lotuses. Instead of altering and sketching existing designs, I created one from scratch, as seen here. The lotus was chosen because it aligns with the game’s theme and name, Chance. A lotus symbolizes luck, which this game combines with skill to achieve success.

I explored several iterations of typography for the final version of the logo. However, each font that initially seemed suitable ultimately did not pair well with the final logo design. With valuable feedback from future users and customers, we ultimately decided on TAN Headline for the typography, as it complemented the curvy shapes in the logo design.

I created numerous designs for the branding on the back of the Chance game cards. After days of designing, making creative adjustments based on feedback, and iterating, I gained a clearer vision of the final design. Ultimately, I chose to retain the lotus design (the first two seen on the left) for the final logo.

After days of rapid design and constructive feedback from family and peers, the final design for the back of each card was achieved. Initially, I considered a single lotus design above ‘Chance.’ However, based on feedback, I decided to mirror the design below as well. Even then, it felt incomplete, so I created the background element that ultimately unified the entire design.

Card Designs for Chance

All of the card designs were inspired by 90s-style color palettes, an era I grew up in and am very fond of. They were also influenced by games like Four Crowns, UNO, and Skip Bo. I made sure the numbers were large enough for all players to see clearly.

These Play Cards are crucial throughout the game. Initially, I considered only spelling out the words on the cards (e.g., Play One, Play Two). However, some helpful feedback suggested that I also create designs behind the words, which really ties everything together.

Originally called Wild Cards, these Action Cards help make the game even more exciting. Games like Spades always included a game changer to keep players on their toes, so I figured these were the perfect cards to add.

Design Feedback

Analyzing Feedback

During the two-month design process, I sought feedback from friends and family to understand what was working and what wasn’t. I was surprised to learn that some of my initial design choices didn’t provide the best user experience. This feedback was invaluable in creating Chance.

Style Guide

I created a style guide for Chance that aligns with the game’s theme. The guide includes the color palette, typography and logo.

What I’ve Learned (So Far):

Designing this game taught me the value of patience and the importance of accepting and applying all criticism and feedback. In previous projects, I was always open to critique to improve my skills. However, this card game felt more personal, making it difficult to accept that certain design choices were viewed differently by others. Ultimately, it was for the best, as thorough user feedback greatly influenced the game’s creative direction.

The Future of Chance & ScreenLess

Looking ahead, I plan to finalize the official game rules, print the cards, and send them to family, friends, and others for thorough user testing. After gathering feedback, I’ll make further improvements to ensure the best user experience. Once everything is finalized and users are happy with the product, I will launch a Kickstarter campaign to secure funding for marketing, production, and brand awareness. My goal is for Chance to become a favorite amongst families and for ScreenLess to be a household name in the industry.