Alberto Benito Pontes
Winner of travel grant of DKK 30.000.
Universal Design for Board Games. Designing fun and inclusive boardgames for all from scratch to promote social change
This project acknowledges the prevalent practice of adding accessibility features as “patches” to existing games and seeks to avoid this approach by incorporating accessibility and inclusivity from the outset. The problem statement is: How can board games be more inclusive and accessible for all from scratch?
This project phases will retain their essence but undergo a streamlined process compressed into a focused three-month timeline. The approach will involve optimizing the existing channels within the board game community to gather valuable insights from players. This strategic shift aims to avoid extensive back-and-forth iterations and instead allocate more time to conducting intensive focus groups. These focus groups will serve as a crucial avenue for in-depth exploration, offering profound insights into the project’s core premise of Universal Design and its commitment to inclusivity. The development of the MVP will be the final goal and if possible, within the timeframe, iterations and improvements will be conducted.
Alberto plans to conduct his investigation from the end of summer to the fall of 2024 at Mighty Boards in Malta.
Watch the pitch below.
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Alberto Benito Pontes
's investigation
There has been a change in Alberto’s investigation journey. He will now be traveling to Australia and the United Arab Emirates instead of his original location. Below you can read posts along the way from his journey where he describes the experiences he has had and what he has learned so far.
October 2024
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Playtesting in Brisbane
My time in Brisbane has been a filled with creativity and learning!
I’ve had a fantastic experience connecting with designers and players in the local tabletop (the Aussie way of saying board game) community.
One of the highlights was joining a playtesting day at the Brisbane Incubator – Board Game Playtesting & Community, where I got a behind-the-scenes look at the design process. From early concepts to near-finished games, I experienced firsthand the careful balance designers strike between playability and creativity. It was inspiring to see how their decisions shape the player experience, from rules and themes to adjustments based on player feedback.
Reflecting on these interactions, I can see the incredible potential of creating fun, intuitive games that are accessible to everyone. Yet, we still often rely on “patches” or add-ons to make games inclusive for those with different needs; when these features could be integrated from the start.
What stood out most was the openness of Australian designers to this challenge. Many are already considering inclusive elements, a promising step toward making board gaming more universal and inviting for all.
Now, as I head to my next destination before returning to Denmark, I’m bringing a few of these games with me for further exploration.
A huge thank you to the TGDA (Tabletop Game Design Australia), the Brisbane Incubator, the talented designers, dedicated playtesters, and, of course, the Bevica Fonden for making this experience excellent so far.
November 2024
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