We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Ufuk Bircan Özkan about their original and creative Wooden Game design work. Ufuk Bircan Özkan is an award-winning industrial designer, that makes our world a better place with their original wooden game works.
Ufuk Bircan Özkan ("UBÃ") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work BlindBox Wooden Game. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
UBÃ : Starting point for designing this game was to create a puzzle in a 3-dimensional structure with simple rules.
UBÃ : My aim was to create something that interact with our senses. BlindBox does not allow players to see what's happening inside. Instead it encourages to use our memory and hearing capabilities supported with touching and strategical thinking.
UBÃ : I want to develop it a bit more and market it as a production ready game worldwide.
UBÃ : It was actually a school project of mine in Middle East Technical University, Department of Industrial Design. First version of the game was finished in November 2006. Later on in 2013, I revised the design and rules.
UBÃ : As a school project, our brief was just designing a wooden game. Then I come up with this idea as a final decision.
UBÃ : I have applied for eligible copyrights, but it is not yet mass produced. I want to lease its property rights to a manufacturer.
UBÃ : I think people need to use their senses while having fun, like touching and feeling natural materials, instead of only using plastic buttons and LED displays.
UBÃ : In the first sight it looks like a popular wooden block stacking/collapsing game. However, my first inspiration came from a game where you try to align 4 discs in a row to win.
UBÃ : As the game includes 10mm marbles made of glass and steel, it is not proper for children under 6. Anyone in any age over 6 and from any social level who will enjoy playing it are my target customers.
UBÃ : Although it does not allow players see the paths inside, it gives clues about where your marbles are and force you to use your memory and senses.
UBÃ : BlindBox directly refers to a blind box, which you don't know what contains inside. BlindBox is a blind box for the game itself because in each session you have different maze paths and strategies.
UBÃ : I started with sketches and then made a mock-up. When the product proved itself I prepared CAD data for presentation purposes.
UBÃ : It requires using senses to be successful in the game.
UBÃ : I was on my own while developing the game.
UBÃ : It does not require high technology. It can even be produced as an hand-made product.
UBÃ : I conducted market researches in order to define the needs in present games in the market.
UBÃ : The hardest point was to achieve a bug-free game-play. Because games need rules, there shouldn't be any open point to manipulate the game out of its rules.
UBÃ : I explained the game to many of my friends and colleagues and everyone who listened were excited about it.
UBÃ : I proved one more time what I had experienced before; that building mock-ups for products that require high physical interaction is vital.
