Cohesion Board Game

Cohesion Board Game

Cohesion Board Game is an award-winning cooperative educational board game designed to address family conflicts and strengthen interpersonal relationships through structured gameplay that emphasizes positive communication and collaborative problem-solving within family units. Developed by designer Chan Wing Ki at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University's School of Design between December 2022 and June 2023, Cohesion Board Game emerged as a response to the increased family tensions observed during the pandemic period, when extended periods of cohabitation led to heightened conflicts stemming from divergent interests, inconsistent viewpoints, and communication breakdowns that often began with positive intentions but culminated in negative emotional outcomes. The game employs a sophisticated card-based mechanic system comprising four character cards, fifty-two value cards representing core family principles such as appreciation, harmony, discipline, and warmth, twenty-six event cards, and seventeen conflict cards that simulate real-life familial challenges requiring resolution through cooperative engagement rather than competitive interaction. The physical components of Cohesion Board Game include a comprehensive package measuring 22 centimeters by 16 centimeters, containing cards measuring 8.5 centimeters by 5.5 centimeters, a game map of 29.7 centimeters by 42 centimeters, fifty-two acrylic value tiles of 3 centimeters by 3 centimeters, and an hourglass timing mechanism that introduces urgency to the collaborative decision-making process. The gameplay mechanics require players to assume designated roles indicated by their drawn character cards, which determine the number of base cards each participant must maintain throughout the game, while simultaneously managing two active conflict cards that must be resolved before the hourglass expires to achieve family cohesion scoring based on four subdomains of family solidarity: family time, family atmosphere, family responsibilities, and care and support. The design methodology underlying Cohesion Board Game incorporated extensive research into family dynamics and conflict resolution techniques, drawing particularly from studies conducted by the Hong Kong Family Welfare Society, which informed the game's emphasis on cooperation as a counterbalance to the competitive tendencies that often exacerbate family tensions in contemporary nuclear family structures. The game's pedagogical approach addresses the sociological shift from extended family networks to smaller, more isolated nuclear families, a transition that has created increased instability and negative impacts on children, as documented by contemporary family studies research. Through iterative playtesting and refinement, the design successfully balances engaging gameplay with meaningful educational content, creating an environment where family members must communicate about their hidden card holdings without revealing them directly, thereby fostering the development of effective communication strategies and mutual understanding. The production realization of Cohesion Board Game involved precision crafting of the board and acrylic components to enhance visual appeal while maintaining functional clarity, with the card-based mechanics specifically designed to encourage interaction and discussion around family values and conflict resolution strategies. The game's unique properties distinguish it from conventional board games by positioning all players as teammates working toward a common goal rather than competitors vying for individual victory, a fundamental design choice that mirrors the collaborative nature of healthy family relationships and provides a practical framework for families to practice constructive conflict management in a low-stakes, playful context. The scoring system embedded within Cohesion Board Game measures success not through individual achievement but through collective family cohesion levels, reinforcing the game's central message that family strength derives from unified effort and mutual support. The design challenges overcome during development included addressing the diverse communication styles present within different family structures and ensuring that the game mechanics effectively promoted appreciation and collaboration without becoming didactic or losing entertainment value. Cohesion Board Game received recognition through the Iron A' Design Award in the Education, Teaching Aid and Training Content Design category in 2025, one of the world's most prestigious design competitions, where it was acknowledged for meeting the rigorous professional and industrial standards expected of well-designed educational products that demonstrate practical innovation and contribute meaningfully to improving quality of life through thoughtful design solutions. The award designation recognized the game's demonstration of great skill, high specialization, expert understanding, and creative capacity in addressing real-world family dynamics challenges through an accessible, engaging format that integrates industry best practices in educational game design. The game was exhibited at the Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre in June 2023, providing an opportunity for public engagement with this innovative approach to family wellness education. The research foundation supporting Cohesion Board Game's development emphasized the importance of cooperation over competition in maintaining healthy family relationships, the necessity of addressing communication barriers to prevent misunderstandings, the value of family solidarity in creating belonging and connectedness essential for emotional well-being, and the effectiveness of promoting positive values as a strategy for managing conflicts and building stronger relationships. The target audience for Cohesion Board Game comprises families experiencing negative relationship patterns characterized by frequent conflicts and poor communication, with the game designed to engage all family members regardless of age in a shared experience that encourages them to recognize themselves as a team working toward improved interactions and fostering positive emotions within the family unit. The game's educational framework provides families with a structured support system that helps individuals navigate life's challenges while maintaining feelings of connection and value within the family context, addressing the contemporary need for tools that can facilitate meaningful family interaction in an era where traditional extended family support networks have diminished and nuclear families face increased pressure and isolation.

Educational board game design, family conflict resolution, cooperative gameplay mechanics, interpersonal communication training, family dynamics education, social-emotional learning tools

— Adam Dawson