Applying Human-Centered Design for Game Development to Promote the Local Wisdom of Indigo-Dyed Fabrics

Abstract

This study aims to develop an interactive game to promote the local wisdom of natural indigo dyeing as a unique cultural characteristic of Sakon Nakhon Province, and to create a new approach of learning local wisdom that corresponds with modern instructional models. The conceptual framework for this research was applied from the Human-Centered Design concept. The guide to the media development, contents, and game condition, were theoretically community-based in which the game design was directly engaged with the stakeholders comprising: Group 1: a pilot community of natural indigo and color dyeing, academicians, media design specialists, indigo dyeing specialists; and Group 2: young volunteers joining the game test and media assessment specialists. Data was collected via questionnaires, interviews, field observations and a learning evaluation test. Statistics used in the study were frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. After the media assessment and game test had been conducted with the specialists and volunteer game players, it was concluded that the game quality was rated at a good level, while the players’ satisfaction was at a very high level. The media component received a high level of satisfaction; the highest being in the category Interaction with users. Furthermore, the volunteer game players gained better knowledge of natural indigo dyeing with an Effective Index (E.I.) of 0.7987 or 79.87%.