Reinventing Design Education with the Power of Innovative Game Design

The emergence of the metaverse as a dynamic space for learning underscores the necessity for metaverse-based games in education, offering immersive and structured experiences that align with constructivist pedagogy principles. This paper aims to develop a game using Sandbox to spark interest in design students, facilitating more effective learning of specific concepts. When it comes to learning colour theory, Gestalt principles, design thinking or heuristic principles; students are often instructed in an uninspiring manner, even though these concepts could be presented in a more engaging and captivating way. To address this issue, this paper suggests implementing gamification by developing an interactive game using the Sandbox platform, a decentralised virtual gaming world built on Blockchain technology. The game revolves around navigating a virtual environment while solving questions and tasks at different stages to progress and ultimately reach the destination. This interactive experience aims to enhance their understanding of these principles, moving beyond mere memorisation. The game was tested among ten users based on convenience, technical feasibility, and connectivity, and it was observed that they preferred this method of learning over traditional ones and could also visualise the concepts better. This game could be enhanced to an AR/VR-based model in the future, making the learning process much more immersive and captivating. Additionally, this gamification approach aligns with the Sustainable Development Goal of Education.