UX/UI Game Design
A digital game that explores the common career dilemmas faced by creatives, especially students and emerging professionals.
PRIMARY RESEARCH
Interviews and Surveys
The main goal of these findings were to help with the narratives of the storyline of the game and understand the problem first hand.
TARGET USERS: The primary target audience for the surveys was students from Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECUAD). Focusing on art students made the most sense, as they are the ones who best understand the challenges and nuances of the problem space explored in the game.
01
First- and second-year students tended to prioritize
passion when considering their career choices.
02
Students approaching graduation or currently job searching indicated that financial stability became a major concern as they neared the end of their studies.
SECONDARY RESEARCH
Comparative Analysis
Existing narrative-based games were explored to examine their storylines, art styles, and other key elements. This research revealed techniques and approaches that can enhance the game’s design.
Sheepy: A Short Adventure
Narrative Structure
Art Style
Immersive World Building
Night in the Woods
Narrative Structure
Decision Making
Papers, Please
Decision Making
Moral Dilemmas
Game Play
A comparative analysis of narrative-driven games gave me valuable insights into storytelling techniques and the role of visual design. I learned how games balance emotional depth with player choice and how art and design enhance the overall narrative experience.
The primary inspiration for Dreams and Dollars comes from Good Pizza, Great Pizza, known for its engaging simulation gameplay and first-person perspective that lets players interact with diverse characters. Similarly, Dreams and Dollars progresses through conversations and branching choices reflecting players’ values and aspirations.
The gameplay mechanics of Good Pizza, Great Pizza serve as an ideal model: a simple yet immersive interface that focuses on story and emotional decisions, rich and humorous character interactions, and a fast pace with evolving scenarios that maintain player engagement—elements mirrored in Dreams and Dollars as players navigate career paths and life choices.
A storyboard was created to better understand the user's perspective during the game development process. It provided an opportunity to reflect on the user's emotional experience and consider their point of view more deeply.
Once the entire game scenario was written out, a user flow diagram was created to visualize the steps users would take and to get an overview of the game's structure.
In order to move onto designing the visuals for the game, the different scenarios needed to be created. Through the different surveys and interviews that were conducted, and after getting consent, their stories were taken into consideration to structure some of the narratives in the game.
I aimed to maintain the game’s light and playful tone. Inspired by the illustrative style of Good Pizza, Great Pizza, I recreated the characters, background, and icons to preserve its cheerful, fun, and warm atmosphere.
Dreams & Dollars
Dreams and Dollars is an interactive storytelling game where players shape their own endings by making career-related choices many face in life. It offers no clear answers but encourages exploring different paths. Through humor, narrative, and relatable characters, the game reassures players they’re not alone in these decisions.
Intro Animation
The intro animation helps immerse players in the world of a recent graduate, offering context for the story ahead. Light humor adds a relatable and playful touch to draw players in.
Scenarios
The core gameplay revolves around navigating different scenarios by choosing between 'yes' or 'no' responses. Along the way, players meet various characters who react to their choices, guiding the story to the next scene. A scale in the top left corner tracks 'Happiness' and 'Money,' shifting based on each decision made. The scenes are filled with humorous situations that keep the experience light and fun, while still prompting players to reflect on deeper questions.
Summary
Once the player has completed all their choices, they are presented with a summary view that reflects their overall journey. This allows them to look back and reflect on the decisions they made throughout the game.
Outcome
After the summary page is displayed, the game automatically leads players to one of four possible outcomes based on the choices they made. These endings aren't meant to provide solutions, but rather offer a playful way to reflect on real-life challenges. Players can then choose to replay the game to explore different paths or exit the experience.
Why binary choices?
- To keep the experience focused and emotionally impactful. Career decisions often feel like all-or-nothing in real life.Why multiple endings?
- To show that different choices lead to different results — but none are “right” or “wrong.”Why visual storytelling?
- It makes heavy topics more digestible, and illustration adds personality and relatability.Why this topic?
- Research from school surveys, online polls, and interviews showed that many creatives face confusion, burnout, and existential doubt — this game brings those conversations to the surface. This is something that we’ve all been through and is going through.
Given the limited time I had, I’m very happy with both the concept and the final outcome. However, with more time, there would have been greater potential to explore additional possibilities. Through multiple rounds of user testing and feedback, I identified several improvements I would have liked to implement to further enhance the project.
Future improvements:
- Add a functional Resource Hub for post-game reflection
- Implement path tracking so players can see how their choices built their ending
- Expand decision branches for deeper interactivity
How far could a small, personal idea go? I wanted to explore how Dreams and Dollars could evolve—reaching beyond just a student audience to connect with anyone navigating the uncertainties of creative careers.
From building a relatable, polished game to connecting with others through their stories, this project taught me the power of empathy-driven design. While there’s more I’d love to develop, I’m proud of what I’ve created—and excited for what comes next. Like the game itself, careers rarely follow a straight path. But with curiosity, care, and creativity, every choice can lead somewhere meaningful.
