sheshbesh re-imagined
re-imagining a 5,000 year-old game, matching the shape of the board to the circular experience of the game while maintaining the original board elements through rectangular game pieces and triangular points.
the process
incorporating feedback & making changes
after a lot of testing and feedback gathering, i made multiple improvements to the board-- simplifying the design significantly by returning to some of the traditional board design elements. i removed the center console, clearly marked the quadrants, lightened the blue color to improve visibility, and cut the board in half to allow it to fold in half for storage of the pieces and dice. then i added the carrying strap that i had included in the original design, including a loop and button clasp to keep it closed.
the second round of user testing made it clear that while the new features of this board are cool, they make playing difficult even for the most practiced players. i learned that simplicity is key - maintaining the patterns of the original game board while introducing just one new feature: roundness.
so i took this feedback and started working on the final prototype.
i had to learn how to bend the wood to get the circular border, ensuring that all parts of the border aligned when closed.
