DESIGNING PLAYFUL ENCOUNTERS        

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP

The main goal of this workshop is to present innovative and exciting works that promote the discussion on how to design for playful encounters for strangers in urban areas. We are interested in supporting the role of game and play as change agents for promoting new connections between disparate groups. We believe these connections have the potential to erode divisions based on age, gender, race, and nationality. We welcome participants to show, contrast and propose different approaches in using games and play for promoting new encounters. Participants are encouraged but NOT REQUIRED to submit proven work describing case studies where play and game elements were instrumental in achieving prosocial goals. We also invite interested parties to submit theoretical contributions on designing for fun, appropriation, ambiguity, curiosity as resources for prosocial playful interaction. Submissions will form part of a report that will present new directions for games research and will be published on a visible platform.