Innovative Urban Planning Card Game by Alexis Şanal Engages Players

Architect Alexis Şanal has ingeniously transformed the complexities of urban planning into an engaging and educational card game called “City Making 101”. This game, conceived by Şanal in collaboration with the Istanbul-based studio Open Urban Practice and ŞANALarc, is designed to make urban design a lively and creative adventure.

Through role-playing and spirited debates, players are encouraged to dream up ideal environments, tackle real-world design problems, and craft practical solutions.

The game is intended for both professional designers and the general public, offering a unique way to explore and influence the future of our shared spaces.

The Concept Behind City Making 101

City Making 101 is a role-playing and debate-focused game that draws inspiration from the popular fantasy tabletop game Dungeons and Dragons. Each player selects a character such as a “resident”, an “expert”, or “local government”.

A facilitator leads the gameplay, presenting a picture of the environment and guiding the players through the process.

Game Mechanics

The game begins with each player receiving a series of cards that detail various urban elements or policies. These may include concepts like “interstitial spaces”, “car parking”, or “universal accessibility”.

Players must sort these cards by priority and then engage in debates to convince others to select their priority cards. The selected cards are gradually placed at the center of the group to build the city or public area.

Educational and Practical Benefits

City Making 101 is designed not just for fun but also as an educational tool. It aims to provide players with a deeper understanding of the urban planning process and inspire them to think creatively about solutions to real-world problems.

The game encourages collaboration and critical thinking, making it an excellent resource for both professionals in the field and curious citizens.

Target Audience

The game is suitable for a wide range of players, from professional urban planners and designers to students and community members interested in urban development.

By engaging in this interactive experience, players can gain insights into the complexities of urban design and develop ideas that could spark real-world change.

Inspiration and Development

Alexis Şanal, who holds degrees from SCI-Arc and MIT, was inspired to create City Making 101 based on her extensive experience as an urban planner.

She aimed to make the game a creative and accessible way for anyone to explore, debate, and shape the future of shared spaces.

Collaborative Effort

The development of City Making 101 was a collaborative effort involving several key contributors. The project was founded by Open Urban Practice, with Alexis Şanal serving as the chief editor.

The team also included researchers, project coordinators, interns, graphic designers, visual curators, illustrators, and editors.

The photography for the project was provided by Griyer, and the game is published by ORO Editions.

Other Design-Focused Card Games

City Making 101 is part of a growing trend of design-focused card games that aim to educate and inspire players.

Other examples include a merge of Uno and I Spy designed by children and an Ikea tarot deck set informed by the company’s manual instructions. These games offer unique ways to engage with design concepts and encourage creative thinking.

Photography and Production

The photography for City Making 101 was provided by Griyer, with contributions from Eslem Serra Özen, Mehmet Akif Sarı, and İrem Mert.

The visual curation involved the use of Midjourney and ChatGPT, with contributions from Metehan Özcan, Selva Gürdoğan, Esra Kahveci, and Alexis Şanal.

Conclusion

City Making 101 is a groundbreaking card game that transforms the challenge of urban design into an engaging and educational experience.

By combining role-playing, debate, and creative problem-solving, the game offers players a unique opportunity to explore and influence the future of urban spaces.

Whether you’re a professional designer or a curious citizen, City Making 101 provides a platform to bring bold ideas to life and spark real-world change.

For more information, you can read the full article on Dezeen.