Process Planning

This section of the website will cover the following: What was my initial research question? What global context did I choose? What research did I conduct and what resources did I use? What were some obstacles I encountered during this process? What did I discover about my project during this time? Did I have to make any changes to my ideas? As well as taking a look at the criteria which helped guide the project.

My initial research topic talked about my increasing my woodworking skills: To accumulate and put into practice enough knowledge on how to work with wood, using different techniques into a final product (which will be a board game). This linked well to my chosen Global Context of personal and cultural expression, as my research was connected to myself and the expression of both my love for board games and my want to create my own, which expresses the knowledge and experience I've had with other games.

Regarding the research I conducted, I looked at varying sources, ranging from websites to articles to youtube videos to get a basic idea of how to go about things. I then also conducted an interview about my initial idea with a personal knowledgeable about the topic. I put all of it to practice.

Some obstacles I encountered were dealing with trying to find reliable sources of information and people to interview and ask questions to.

A person I talked to, an experienced teacher in the craft actually advised me to use mitre joints and not box joints, as otherwise the ends of the wood would get a lot darker than the rest of the box. He explained that is was because the endgrain of the wood would soak up the colour.

I discovered a lot during the research part of my project, mostly around the tools used and the ways to cut wood and dye it using different types of lacquers and paints.

However, research isn't the only thing that is needed to prepare for a project. The criteria are vital in pushing the project in the right direction and staying on track, so here is a copy of those very same criteria which helped form my product:

i. The game must be made out of wood and show use of the knowledge researched during the investigation phase (such as joinery and tools). I will make sure to follow this by going to buy wood at wood shops specific to my desired outcome. I will also look back at my research and apply it. This is qualitative as this criteria revolves around searching for quality wood which will result in a product of quality as well as the quality of the research which will form this product.

ii. The game must have movable, separate pieces which will go atop a checkerboard-like board. There should be two different type of pieces that each have separate rules which apply to them, but the two sides should have the same type of pieces. This is important as it will ensure the creation of a game involving strategy and planning (setting up pieces etc). This is quantitative as it has to do with the amount of pieces on the board and their roles and this directly influences gameplay.

iii. The game must utilize rules which are both singular to the game (which permits the design of an original game). The rules must be influenced by previous knowledge about both strategy games such as chess, checkers, backgammon etc, but also influenced by fps games, and other types of video games (which require strategy and planning). The rules must assure planning and strategy. This is important as it will result in a style of gameplay similar to chess or checkers: quite simple at first glance but harder when played. This criteria is qualitative as each rule ensures quality of gameplay, (however because the rules could be numbered, this criteria could also be seen as quantitative).

iv. The board set up must have available space aside the pieces in their starting form as well as space separating the two sides as to give them space to prepare. This is to permit the use of my original rules as well as it being influenced by my prior knowledge and experience with strategy game. This criteria is quantitative as it looks at the set up of the board which will influence the number of pieces on the board and the number of rules.

v. The wood should be shaped using tools which have been researched or have been used in prior experiences (or simpler tools which do not necessitate trials and experience to understand). The tools used should be influenced by the research conducted on the best tools for beginner woodworkers. I will ensure this by using the tools present at school (which include table saws, hand held saws, files, bores..). This criteria is qualitative as the usage of different tools for differing objectives ensure a higher quality of product.