A behind the scenes look at the BA Interaction Design graduate work “Child’s Play” by Daniel O'Réalta.

As a designer, Daniel O'Réalta enjoys creating fun interactive experiences for people of all ages. In his graduate project, he set out to create a more positive experience for young inpatients in hospitals. During his research, O'Réalta consulted many Hospital Nursing and Admin Staff, as well as inpatients and their families.
Hospitals are not designed for long term stays, and yet that is the situation many families and young children find themselves in. There is little in the way of personal space, or the ability to express themselves. Children miss out on key social milestones.

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“Child’s Play” is a game designed to give children the space to socialise and express themselves in a colourful world separate to their sterilised hospital surroundings, in a Child-Safety focused digital environment isolated from the greater internet.
Users get their own digital planet and avatar which they are free to customise as they wish, and can chat and play games with other children within the Hospital's Digital Ecosystem.

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O'Réalta's design aims to create a colourful and welcoming social space for children to socialise and have a break from the routine of their day-to-day treatment.