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In July 2008, National Environment Agency (NEA) organised a board game design competition opened to all local schools. The key objective of this competition was to create a board game that is not only fun but also teaches environmental issues. This competition has become the talk of the town, as it received one hundred entries from various schools of all levels, including ITE. After the event, NEA recognised the importance of educating the youths through this competition and would like to extend the board game to the public. NEA had decided to mass produced 3 of the winning board games and delivered to all secondary schools.

NEA has approached the College West (CW) Digital Media Design (DMD) Department through Melchiz History Games to redesign the manual rendered board games to a digital format ready for mass production. As a collaboration project with NEA, the DMD Department took up this challenge to transform the three award-winning board games design to give them a more complete look and furnished them with interesting mascots. Kenny Chan, Training Support Officer of DMD at Ang Mo Kio, was given the opportunity to take the lead in this project. Together with colleagues - Natalie Chen and Remy Mazham, the team felt that they could engage DMD students in this project as it would give a great chance for our students to showcase their talents and creativity. Seven students took up the challenge and worked under the guidance of the three DMD staff, producing the board games in barely four weeks on top of their assignments and lessons.

The Recycle Coaster game aims to promote to recycle materials instead of throwing them away. It also suggests many method and ways to conserve energy. The originally picture is further illustrated with eyes, hands and vivid colors to create interest for the age group 7-10 years old.

Mascot for the Recycle Coaster game.

The Mozzie Buster Game: target audience of 11-13 years old this game is designed to educate and remind about the consequences of leaving stagnant water exposed and the many ways to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes.

Mozzie Buster Game Cards

The Mobius game idea originated from an awareness of the increasing of waste and pollution in the modern society. Through the game, pupils learn to appreciate ways to conserve energy from the 3 R, reduce, recycle and reuse. While playing the game, players have to overcome various challenges related to environmental issues such as reducing waste and recycle product

Mobius Game Cards

DMD student, Sheryl Law said, “ITE serves as a platform for us to showcase our design works. I would like to see more of the activities held to help curb the environment problems”. The team drafted out the sketches, creating the characters and finally rendered in computer using Adobe software.

Upon completion, the board games were used at the Environmental Competition held on the 1 – 2 November 2008, at the Marina Barrage as part of the Clean and Green Singapore Carnival with Prime Minster Lee Hsien Loong as the Guest of Honour