CoPlay

Redefining Third Places Through Gaming Cafe

CoPlay is a project that reimagines gaming cafés as vibrant third places to counter the decline in face-to-face interactions within New Zealand's gaming community. As inflation and the immersive appeal of online games reduce in-person engagement, many players miss out on the social and mental health benefits of physical third places.

Time
3 Weeks
Team Size
2 Members
My role
Product Designer
Tools
Figma, Illustrator, Miro

OVERVIEW

Background

Third place has a vital role in our life. It is a place other than our home and workplace where "public relaxation" is encouraged, and healthy social interactions are fostered (Oldenburg, 2023). Lee (as cited by Liddy, 2023) connected third places to our social well-being because it's a crucial aspect for human beings to have a sense of community, and opportunity to escape loneliness. As such, a third place had been coined as a key ingredient to happiness (Liddy, 2023).

" Third place "

  • Public Places
  • Social Interactions
  • Healthy & Well-being

Design Process

CoPlay design process diagram from discover through future step

The Team & My Role

Members

My Role

Lyn Ling

Individual Work – Low & High Fidelity, Prototyping & Iterations, Visual Design

Angela Vizcarra

Team Work – Concept Design (Lead), Research & Analysis, Testing, Presentation

Result

CoPlay final app screen collage with playful game-piece illustration

PRIMARY RESEARCH

Primary Problem Framing

How might we encourage New Zealand gamers aged 18 to 35 to visit gaming cafés with tabletop games for social interaction to reduce the negative effects of prolonged online gaming to their mental health?

Research Key Insignts

Technology - Guideline

"If there were an interactive device in offline settings that could guide beginners through the game step-by-step with on-screen tutorials, their gaming experience would be much better." - PE Q15.1

Users find the use of technology to be advantageous in enhancing their gaming experience, specifically in finding guidance and assistance.

Real Interactions

"It's just that human touch that adds a little bit more fun when you are playing with your friends or your family, or whoever you're playing with." - PC Q14

Most participants prefer collaborative gaming because they find the immersive and interactive nature of in-person gaming to be beneficial.

Suitable Location

"Sometimes in the malls they have this chess board that's on the floor, and they have these massive pieces... Sometimes, I'll play against other people." - PB Q6.2

Collaborative gaming venues can be established in any suitable location, making any appropriate place a potential candidate for a "third place."

CHALLENGE & GOAL

Problem Reframing

Based on the insights, we reframed the problem to develop a low-cost product as a tool to support collaborative gaming.

How might we support New Zealand gamers aged 18 to 35 allowing them to participate in a low-cost in-person collaborative gaming, which results in reduced risks of prolonged online gaming?

USER FLOW

User Flow

CoPlay QR onboarding and app navigation user flow

WIREFRAME & PROTOTYPING

Wireframe & Prototyping

To bridge the gap between digital discovery and real-world participation, we introduced a QR-poster system, allowing users to scan, join, and host events in a matter of seconds. This feature provided a frictionless entry point, making participation as intuitive as scanning a lobby code in an online game.

QR Code Onboarding

CoPlay QR onboarding poster with scan-to-join call to action

Utilize a centrally placed, large QR code as the focal point to guide users seamlessly into the app's homepage.

Accompany the QR code with concise product feature descriptions on either side, providing clear context and highlighting key functionalities to enhance user understanding and engagement during the onboarding process.

FidelityPrototypes

Low Fidelity Prototypes

CoPlay low-fidelity mobile prototype screens

USER TESTING

User Testing

Usability testing was conducted in person with 4 participants. A semi-structured interview and three sets of tasks were used for the main user. This lasted 15-20 minutes.

Before in-person CoPlay usability testing
Before
During in-person CoPlay usability testing
During
After in-person CoPlay usability testing
After

Key Insights

#1

While the poster's messaging is aligned with the app, its visual appeal could be enhanced by using vibrant colors, including examples of recognizable logos, and characters of popular games.

#2

While participants agreed that the app's design was intuitive, they all had suggestions on how to improve it, based on their gaming background. Most of the areas for improvement are related to account management, and helping players with their decision making process.

#3

The app's ability to connect people with shared gaming interests, can be seen as a potential driving factor for social engagement. Its role in collaborative gaming may not directly impact the gaming experience, however its use as a support tool is a promising feat.

ITERATIONS & HIGH-FIDELITY PROTOTYPE

Poster Iterations

CoPlay poster iterations with visual design annotations

Eye-catching colors for key text elements to improve engagement.

High-fidelity mockups of the app were added to highlight the main features of the product.

App Iterations

CoPlay app iteration screen comparison for account creation
CoPlay app iteration screen comparison for profile setup
CoPlay app iteration screen comparison for game preferences
CoPlay app iteration screen comparison for final onboarding

Final Deliverables

FINAL DELIVERABLES

Coplay is a QR-powered platform that enables gamers to discover, join, and host in-person gaming events, making real-world play more accessible and community-driven.

Final CoPlay QR poster
Poster
Login & Sign up
Home
Games near me
Friend finder
Porfile

Key Features:

  • Join a Game – Easily browse and sign up for nearby gaming sessions.
  • Create an Event – Organize and promote collaborative gaming meetups.
  • Community-Driven – Supports in-person gaming without reliance on costly venues.
  • Seamless QR Onboarding – Encourages effortless participation through poster-based event discovery.

REFLECTION

Reflection

Topic Final Thoughts

Based on our research, a third place is no longer confined within the common places that we know. Even if its characteristics do not tick everything from Oldenburg's third place definition, the common denominator of being able to build connections, to belong in a community, and to nurture our wellbeing is what matters.

Future Steps

As of the moment, the only security feature for the app is uploading a valid ID. For future enhancement, the following may be included:

  • Location could be limited to public spaces within the author's area.
  • Report features could be included in each post, or player profile.
  • Partnership / Collaboration with local gaming shops / cafés / community centers to ensure safety, and to help local businesses.
  • Further testing using the High-fidelity prototype.

Takeaways

This project taught me the importance of iterative design and the value of refining user flows and UX writing to prevent user errors. For these parts, Angela supported me a lot. Through this collaboration, I enhanced my research and design skills while improving my ability to communicate and work with teammates. The combination of research, design, and teamwork contributed to the overall success of the product.