Project Overview: Luma
Luma is a digital companion for board gamers.
It helps users learn new games with visual tutorials,
discover events, and connect with players in their area.
Whether you're a beginner or seasoned gamer,
Luma simplifies learning and fosters social play.
Developed by "The Tired Raccoons" at Langara College,
the project addresses the fragmentation of current tools
by offering a cohesive journey from initial rule discovery
to live event participation.
It helps users learn new games with visual tutorials,
discover events, and connect with players in their area.
Whether you're a beginner or seasoned gamer,
Luma simplifies learning and fosters social play.
Developed by "The Tired Raccoons" at Langara College,
the project addresses the fragmentation of current tools
by offering a cohesive journey from initial rule discovery
to live event participation.
1. The Problem
The design identifies three primary friction points
for both casual and dedicated gamers:
- Cognitive Overload: Traditional rulebooks are often dense, poorly designed, or confusing, overwhelming players before they begin.
- Social Barriers: Newcomers often experience anxiety about joining games due to a fear of not knowing the rules or slowing down experienced players.
- Fragmented Tools: Users currently have to switch between various platforms for reviews (BoardGameGeek), tutorials (YouTube), and event discovery (Meetup).
2. Core Design Pillars
The rationale for Luma's interface and features is built
on three interactive pillars:
- Interactive Tutorials: Moving away from passive reading
or watching, Luma utilizes step-by-step, visually driven tutorials that allow for "learning by doing".
- Discover Board Game Events: The platform streamlines the transition from learning to playing by showcasing local and virtual events tailored to the user's skill level and game preferences.
- Game Discovery & Personalization: To help users navigate a surging market of games, the design includes a discovery engine that provides suggestions based on individual experience levels and interests
3. Competitive Strategy
Luma's design rationale emphasizes a "tutorial-first" approach
to gain a competitive edge. While existing apps like Dized
or MyLudo offer individual features (tutorials or databases),
Luma is designed to fill the "experiential and social gaps"
by integrating all three core features—tutorials, events,
and discovery—into one seamless user experience.
Pain Points: Repeats rules often, struggles with inconsistent explanations
Deep Patel, The Solo Learner: Low game experience, high tech confidenc Wants easy tutorials and ways to meet new players
Pain Points: Overwhelmed by rules, doesn’t know where to start
to gain a competitive edge. While existing apps like Dized
or MyLudo offer individual features (tutorials or databases),
Luma is designed to fill the "experiential and social gaps"
by integrating all three core features—tutorials, events,
and discovery—into one seamless user experience.
4. User Personas
Valeriya, The Explorer: High game experience, low tech confidence, wants visual tutorials and community eventsPain Points: Repeats rules often, struggles with inconsistent explanations
Deep Patel, The Solo Learner: Low game experience, high tech confidenc Wants easy tutorials and ways to meet new players
Pain Points: Overwhelmed by rules, doesn’t know where to start
Project Contributors: The Tired Raccoons
- Lead UX/UI Designer: Ana Morais
- UX/UI Designers: Nil Yilmaz, Mekhala Manappatt, Sahil Kumar
- Project Manager & Developer: Zin Min Htun
- Lead Developer: Oluwademilade Aluko
- Developer: Aboubakar Muco