Waterlily Sketch

Reclaiming Focus and Meaningful Play in the Age of Short-Form Media

Navn
Mathias Algot Søllested
Uddannelsesgrad
Kandidat
Fagfelt
Design
Institut
Design og Visuel Interaktion
Program
Visuelt Design, Visual Game and Media Design
År
2026

                      🍁                                                                      🌿

[CONTEXT & THEME]

     As short-form media fragments youth attention loops, digital ecosystems 
🌿must pivot toward intentional child well-being. This research applies  
     the UNICEF RITEC Guidelines to champion child welfare and inclusivity 
     across digital spaces.
                             🍁                                
                                                                                        🌿
 

[THEORY & DATA]

     By replacing mindless habit design with 'opt-in complexity', play 
     frameworks can actively scaffold cognitive focus. Empirical tracking
     of player telemetry shows that introduction of choice-driven mechanical
     friction stabilizes sustained engagement rather than causing frustration.
🌿                                                                                                            🍁
                                          🍂
 

[RESEARCH CONCLUSION]

                                                                                         🌿                  
     The findings conclude that balancing digital agency with sensory play 
      supports meaningful attentional divergence, establishing an industry 
🌿 blueprint for developmentally beneficial mobile interaction.      
                                                                         🌿                  
               🍁

 

1
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Overall Graph
Combined Friction
Split Friction

Once More

[PROTOTYPE & GAME MECHANICS]

The accompanying mobile game prototype, 'Once More', instantiates these theoretical frameworks within a stylized fairytale aesthetic. By utilizing custom digging sites and a physical trailing inventory system, the gameplay introduces deliberate interaction pacing that counters impulsive tapping behaviors.

[OPT-IN COMPLEXITY IN ACTION]

Rather than locking progression behind forced retention hooks, players actively choose when to engage with deeper mechanical layers. This design architecture transforms standard mobile interactions into a self-paced, meaningful play loop that respects child agency and cognitive pacing.

Game Trailer

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Uddannelse og relevante kurser
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Visual Game and Media Design

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Game and Interaction Design

Erhvervserfaring
-

Game Developer @ LEGO

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Game Designer @ SYBO

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Game Designer @ Throughline Games

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Creative Technology Lab Assistant @ KADK

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Data Visualization Assistant @ ITU

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