Barrier, Opportunity and Element-model

The aim of this project was to create a toolkit that can be used to develop engaging new products and services aimed at senior users. This toolkit consists of elements from games which succeed in motivating seniors, related to the context of the project.

According to application designers, the two key aspects that can be improved in their design process are communication and inspiration. Communication relates to design experts discussing product- or service ideas with their clients or members of a multi-disciplinary team. Inspiration relates to providing individuals or groups with little to no knowledge of how games are built a starting point from which they can start to think, as well as providing structure for design teams so that they do not lose focus while brainstorming. The end result of this project is an infographic, in which barriers and opportunities of the target group are linked to a selection of game elements. This infographic, the BOE-model (Barrier, Opportunity and Element-model), can be used by application designers aiming to design engaging products and services aimed at seniors and has been successfully tested in terms of communication and inspiration.

Wessel Braakman
M. Vastenburg, P. J. Stappers
master thesis, September 2012