Dungeons & Dragons

CLIENT

Dungeons & Dragons

TYPE

Academic Project: Accessible & Inclusive Design

YEAR

2026

BRIEF

Dungeons & Dragons: The Adventure Begins was redesigned to allow visually impaired and sighted players to experience the game together. The problem was that much of the original game experience depends on visual information, which can create a barrier for players with visual impairments. Instead of creating a completely separate game, the challenge was to make the existing experience more accessible without taking away from the original gameplay.

CONCEPT

The concept was to make accessibility part of the game rather than creating a separate version for visually impaired players. Visual information was translated into alternative forms of communication using touch, texture, shape and audio. The goal was simple: players should be able to experience the same game together, regardless of whether they rely on sight or touch.

DIRECTION

Research explored accessible board games and different approaches to inclusive gameplay. The direction focused on tactile communication and how physical qualities could replace information normally communicated visually. References around braille, raised surfaces, tactile shapes, audio storytelling and accessible product design informed the moodboard and design direction. The approach was intentionally integrated into the existing game rather than making accessibility feel like an additional layer.

SKETCHES

Early ideation explored different ways to translate game information into tactile and audio cues. Ideas around braille, raised elements, different textures, distinct shapes and QR-based storytelling were tested. The sketches focused on questions such as how a player could identify a character, understand a path or track health without depending entirely on sight.

THE MAKING

The selected sketches were developed into digital files to prepare the game elements for production. The sketches were refined and converted into accurate digital templates for the dungeon board, characters, tokens and health trackers. These files were then used for laser cutting the different components on different materials from Acrylic Sheets to Paper. After cutting, the pieces were assembled by hand using DIY sticking and layering techniques. The components were carefully positioned and attached to create the raised paths, distinct textures and tactile details shown in the final game system. This process allowed the original sketches to become physical, interactive elements that players could recognise and use through touch.

FINAL GAMEPLAY

The final prototype brings together the tactile board, characters, tokens, health system and audio support. Raised paths and textured areas allow players to understand the board through touch, while characters and tokens have distinct physical forms. QR-based audio storytelling adds another layer of accessibility by allowing narrative information to be experienced through sound.