Sydelle Saldanha

FiNDING is a solo card game based on the themes of exploration and self-reflection.The focus of the game is to provide its players a safe space for exploring their gender identity. Through the use of inclusive design and narrative-building, the game seeks to dissect naturalised assumptions surrounding heteronormativity. The game was developed following research, concept-building, design development and playtesting.

A look at the design development for FiNDING

Co-design was an integral aspect of the development of FiNDING. Feedback was collected at different stages of the project through playtesting with target users and discussions with represented communities.

Queer readings of tabletop and video games led to the understanding of inclusivity within game design and how elements such as characters, narratives, environments and mechanics can be adapted for inclusive play.

Through a semiotic analysis of advertisements of fairness creams in India, this research project examined the intersection of beauty, fairness and gender as propagated by advertisements.
Some of the questions this project aimed to answer were:
0.1 What signs relating to gender are actively and unintentionally utilised by advertisements?
02. What gender norms do advertisements exploit to increase demand and to distinguish between target users?
03. Can beauty and skincare products be gender-neutral?
04. Can advertising be gender-neutral?
This findings of this research project have been presented in an infographic format.

An animatic designed for a poetic statement:
In a world where the Machine calls, do you answer? Will you survive the dystopia or will you mutate into history's forgotten words?