The LEGO Group and UNICEF have joined forces to launch a new toolbox for game designers that puts the well-being of children at the center of the production of digital games.
The Responsible Innovation in Technology for Children (RITEC) Design Toolbox is based on research by UNICEF Innocenti’s Global Research and Foresight Office, which includes five research institutions and more than 750 children from around the world.
While the online world offers endless possibilities for children, we know it can also cause concerns for parents. In an age where children are increasingly exposed to digital technology, it has never been more important to have strong guidelines in place to protect their well-being. We know that the digital games industry is grappling with the challenge of understanding how best to design digital technologies to promote children’s well-being. We are committed to creating safe and rich digital environments for children, so we are pleased that the RITEC Design Toolbox is freely available to everyone. We call on gaming companies and businesses to make this a priority when creating digital gaming experiences.
RITEC Design Toolbox includes an interactive deck of game design features, printable posters, quotes and examples for children, a shared vocabulary for game designers to use when discussing child well-being, and a business case for executives to highlight design for well-being The summary, along with a list of important factors in designing for well-being, includes autonomy; authority; emotional regulation; relationships; creativity; identity; diversity, equity and inclusion; and safety and security.
“While children will certainly benefit from designers and creatives incorporating this toolkit into their work, I hope RITEC-8’s work will also show parents, teachers, and adults on the fence about the positives of digital play. Features,” study at Killer Snails, one of the learning companies participating in the RITEC research program. “Digital games can be very beneficial for children if the experience is designed correctly.”
Research led by UNICEF shows that digital gaming experiences can support children’s well-being if designed appropriately. The RITEC Design Toolbox will make it easier for game designers to apply findings from this research into their work and design digital game experiences to support children’s well-being.
The RITEC Design Toolbox is the culmination of three years of research conducted by UNICEF with the University of Western Sydney, the University of Sheffield, New York University, CUNY and Queensland University of Technology.
