Togather is a team project rethinking the concept of home through the Act of Gathering and the Art of Play.
All team members (Mariam Fawaz, Sarah Kaaki, Tala Khalaf and Teodora Serbanescu) have equally contributed to the creation of the game, using their different backgrounds in the process of understanding the multifaceted nature of gathering.
How was the game born?
Primary research has been undertaken as the very first step to understanding how people actively gather around the world. The first aim of the research was to find out what are some of the things and experiences people find comfortable bonding over with others. The overall statistics have shown that 'senses' such as food, music and smells, which remind the respondents of ‘home’ was the most common answer. Therefore, our team made its mission to start working on an inclusive game that is constructed around the 'five senses': taste, sight, smell, touch, and sound.
What is the aim of the game?
Togather aims to deconstruct the concept of 'right' or 'wrong' within the game culture and looks at ways in which people can make friends with the other players instead of competing with them. Homesickness is a common topic among youth communities, especially when living abroad. The lack of a stable place to call home, which a lot of young individuals might experience, inspired the structure of Togather, which has been designed as an interactive three-part game, intertwining the concept of Individuality (Create your home section) and Togetherness (Gather Section). By the end of the game, we hope that people have made some new friends and that they bonded over some great past experiences or future plans.
What are the components of the game?
The game comprises dice, a foldable game mat which results in a tote bag, a set of 50 cards (10 x 5 senses), 10 markers with sponges, and an e-booklet, which can be accessed by scanning the QR code embossed on the mat.
